Bayern 2-2 Arsenal: Declan Rice's late goal saves the Gunners, but Saka's injury is the big worry

Arsenal fans can breathe again, mostly. A late Declan Rice goal earned a 2-2 draw at Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday, October 21, but Bukayo Saka limped off early.

How the goals went

According to Sky Sports and The Analyst:

• Eberechi Eze (about 25’): Arsenal took the lead after a VAR check ruled Eze onside, with Martin Odegaard providing the pass. Eze had only come on because of Saka’s injury.
• Alphonso Davies (35’): Harry Kane slipped a through ball to Davies to equalise.
• Harry Kane (61’, penalty): Jurrien Timber was penalised for handball, and Kane scored from the spot. It was his 16th goal in 22 games against Arsenal, and he has now scored in 10 Champions League appearances in a row.
• Declan Rice (82’): a slick move involving Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres sent Rice into the box to finish.

The draw kept Arsenal’s long unbeaten run going. They had been heading for their first defeat in 14 Champions League group or league-phase games.

Bayern were missing Michael Olise (suspended) and Joshua Kimmich (bereavement).

The Saka worry

The bigger story for Arsenal may be Bukayo Saka. He went down around the 10th minute holding his left thigh and signalled to the bench straight away. The club later confirmed a quad problem.

Mikel Arteta didn’t hide his concern: “It doesn’t look good at all but we have to wait and see.” He added that when a player has to come off with “a really sharp pain”, it is “never good news.”

Arsenal play Everton on Saturday, the first of five games before the November international break, including a trip to Liverpool on November 1. Losing Saka for any of those would hurt.

Pakistani fans’ takeaway

Arsenal have a big following in Pakistan, and anyone who stayed up past midnight for this one got the full experience: sharp in spells, nervy in others, rescued late. If Saka is out for weeks, watch how Eze, Madueke and Gyokeres step up.