Rice's late equaliser rescues Arsenal in 2-2 draw as Saka limps off at Bayern

Declan Rice rescued Arsenal with a late equaliser to earn a 2-2 Champions League draw at Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena, though the result was immediately overshadowed by a first-half injury to Bukayo Saka that left Mikel Arteta visibly worried on the touchline.

Saka was forced off after just 10 minutes with what appeared to be a quad problem, bringing on Eberechi Eze in his place. The substitute repaid that faith almost immediately, firing Arsenal ahead on 25 minutes after Martin Odegaard threaded a perfectly weighted ball over Bayern’s defence. Eze let it bounce before lashing past Manuel Neuer from close range — a goal initially ruled out for offside before being awarded on review.

Bayern levelled through Alphonso Davies, with the assist coming from Kane, who then put the hosts 2-1 up from the penalty spot after Jurrien Timber was adjudged to have handled. It was Kane’s 10th successive Champions League game with a goal — one short of equalling Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of scoring in 11 consecutive matches in the competition.

Arsenal had not lost a European fixture in normal time for 18 games, and they were determined to protect that record. Rice ensured they did, bundling home an equaliser late on to deny Kane and Bayern all three points.

The draw means Arsenal leave Munich with a point from a game in which they were without their first-choice right winger for the vast majority of the match. Arteta will now wait anxiously on the extent of Saka’s injury ahead of a demanding fixture schedule.

Bayern themselves were short-handed, with Michael Olise suspended following a red card in their previous European outing, while Joshua Kimmich and Jamal Musiala were both absent through injury. Manager Vincent Kompany, who had missed his pre-match press conference due to illness, was well enough to take his place in the dugout.

Eze’s performance — coming off the bench to score in a high-stakes European away fixture — will give Arteta some encouragement, particularly given the 28-year-old had been substituted at half-time in Arsenal’s previous Premier League outing against Nottingham Forest. His composure and clinical finish underlined his value as a squad option, even if the night ultimately belonged to the uncertainty surrounding Saka’s fitness.