Arsenal and Bayern Munich battled to a 2-2 draw in the Champions League quarter-final first leg at the Emirates Stadium, with Leandro Trossard’s late equalizer denying Harry Kane a triumphant return to north London.
Trossard, coming off the bench, found the net in the closing stages after Kane, the former Tottenham striker, had put Bayern ahead 2-1 with a first-half penalty.
Despite increased security measures following threats against stadiums hosting quarter-final matches, the 60,000 sell-out crowd was treated to a pulsating clash.
Early on, Bukayo Saka gave Arsenal the lead, only for former Gunners winger Serge Gnabry to level the score for Bayern.
Arsenal had taken an early lead through Bukayo Saka before former Gunners winger Serge Gnabry put Bayern back on level terms.
Kane scored a North London derby record 14 goals against Arsenal during his time with Tottenham, making him an inevitable target for taunts from Gunners fans.
But Trossard’s dramatic intervention leaves the tie delicately poised ahead of the second leg in Munich on April 17.
Premier League leaders Arsenal have been in superb form this season, while Bayern are on the brink of surrendering the German title for the first time in 12 years after a brutal domestic campaign.
But, playing in the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2010, Arsenal looked unusually hesitant at times and will be relieved to have emerged with their hopes of a first European Cup still intact.
Kane’s goal, his sixth at the Emirates and 39th in all competitions for Bayern seemed to put the visitors in control, but Trossard’s late strike ensured a tense finish.
With the tie delicately poised ahead of the second leg in Munich on April 17, both teams have reasons to be cautiously optimistic.
Arsenal, enjoying a strong season, will be relieved to keep their European Cup hopes alive, while Bayern, facing a challenging domestic campaign, showed moments of vulnerability despite their formidable reputation in European competitions.
