Arsenal commenced their Women’s Champions League campaign with a trip to Germany in Group C, but the formidable Bayern Munich proved far too strong as they ran out 5-2 winners - despite the Gunners initially taking the lead. Jonas Eidevall’s side reached this stage of the tournament having come through qualifying: they faced Hacken in a two-legged tie and progressed 4-1 on aggregate though they lost the first leg 1-0 away from home.

And they’re going to need those powers of recovery again in the group stage, as Mariona Caldentey’s first-half opener proved nothing but a false dawn in the end. Glodis Perla Viggosdottir levelled matters just before half-time, with Sydney Lohmann then burying a low near-post strike to put Bayern ahead. It looked as though that might be that, but Laia Codina equalised for Arsenal against the run of play with a fine header - only for Pernille Harder to then run riot, scoring a hat-trick in 15 minutes to give Bayern a big victory and leave Arsenal needing a reaction next time out.

Arsenal Struggle to Keep Up With Bayern Munich's Attack

Despite the early lead, Bayern Munich was the better side overall, dominating possession and creating chances consistently throughout the match. The German team's attack was relentless, led by the impressive Pernille Harder. The former Chelsea forward was a nightmare for the Arsenal defense, scoring three goals in a decisive 15-minute stretch.

Harder's Hat-Trick Decides the Match

Harder's hat-trick began in the 72nd minute when she scored a header from a corner kick, giving Bayern the lead again. Then, she scored another header from close range in the 77th minute, and she finished her hat-trick with a tap-in from two yards in the 85th minute. The hat-trick was a testament to her clinical finishing and the dominance of Bayern's attack.

Arsenal's Fightback Falls Short

Arsenal did show some fightback in the second half, but they were ultimately unable to match Bayern's intensity. Despite a goal from Laia Codina, who equalized in the 64th minute, the Gunners were unable to hold their ground against Bayern's relentless attack. The result highlights the significant challenge facing Arsenal in this group, which also includes Juventus and Valeranga.

What's Next for Arsenal

Arsenal will be looking to bounce back from this defeat in their next Women's Champions League match. They will need to find a way to improve their defense and create more chances in the attacking third to stand a chance against the other strong teams in the group. Their next match is on October 17th against Juventus, and they will be hoping to pick up their first points of the campaign at home.

A Challenging Road Ahead

While this loss may be a disappointing start to the Women's Champions League campaign for Arsenal, there is still plenty of time to turn things around. With a challenging group stage ahead, the Gunners will need to find their form quickly if they want to progress to the knockout stages. They will need to find a way to exploit their strengths, and that’s going to be the tactical battle here tomorrow night.