{"id":595893,"date":"2025-11-26T22:21:23","date_gmt":"2025-11-26T22:21:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/595893\/"},"modified":"2025-11-26T22:21:23","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T22:21:23","slug":"paul-merson-accuses-arsenal-star-of-falling-asleep-for-bayern-munich-equaliser-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/595893\/","title":{"rendered":"Paul Merson accuses Arsenal star of ‘falling asleep’ for Bayern Munich equaliser | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\"Arsenal
\n\t\tBayern Munich wonderkid Lennart Karl cancelled out Jurrien Timber\u2019s opening goal for Arsenal (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

Paul Merson<\/a> pointed the finger at Myles Lewis-Skelly<\/a> after Lennart Karl\u2019s stunning equaliser in Arsenal\u2019s 3-1 win over Bayern Munich<\/a>, accusing the left-back of \u2018falling asleep\u2019 for the goal.<\/p>\n

Bayern enjoyed the lion\u2019s share of possession in the opening exchanges but it was the Gunners that landed the first blow, with Jurrien Timber rising the highest to head Bukayo Saka\u2019s 22nd-minute corner beyond Manuel Neuer.<\/p>\n

The visitors \u2013 a team that Arsenal had failed to beat in over a decade \u2013 picked themselves up and responded just ten minutes later through 17-year-old attacker Karl, who finished off a slick 24-pass move to make it all square.<\/p>\n

However, Riccardo Calafiori<\/a> was brought on in place of Lewis-Skelly midway through the second half and made an immediate impact to help restore the hosts\u2019 lead, delivering a sublime cross from the left which fellow substitute Noni Madueke<\/a> directed home from close range.<\/p>\n

Gabriel Martinelli<\/a>, another of Mikel Arteta<\/a>\u2019s inspired substitutions, extended Arsenal advantage in the 77th minute, knocking the ball past an onrushing Neuer before passing the ball into the net to cue wild celebrations at the Emirates.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tYour ultimate guide to the football season\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Metro’s football newsletter: In The Mixer. Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk sent straight to your inbox every Friday \u2013 sign up<\/a>, it’s an open goal.<\/p>\n

Karl was a shining light for Bayern in his 81 minutes on the field and became the youngest player in the history of the Champions League to score in his first two appearances in the competitions with his goal.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"\"
\n\t\tLewis-Skelly \u2018fell asleep\u2019 for Karl\u2019s leveller, said Merson (Picture: Sky Sports)<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tMetro at the Match: Arsenal 3-1 Bayern Munich\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Arsenal
\n\t\tNoni Madueke scored Arsenal’s second (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

From the Emirates, Metro’s\u00a0<\/strong>Ben Fleming breaks down the winners and losers from Arsenal’s statement victory over Bayern.<\/p>\n

Jurrien Timber excels again<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gary Neville recently lauded Timber as one of the best full-backs in the world, and it’s easy to see why. Got Arsenal\u2019s opener and was superb in all aspects of the game, it’s no coincidence that Michael Olise’s assist for the opening goal came after he drifted over he opposite flank.<\/p>\n

Bukayo Saka singled out<\/strong><\/p>\n

\t\t\"Arsenal
\n\t\tBukayo Saka was fouled all night (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

The Arsenal forward provided the assist for Timber\u2019s opener, but in open play, found himself man-marked to within an inch of his life by several Bayern players. A reflection of his talent, no doubt, but a problem he will have to learn to deal with on a more than regular basis.<\/p>\n

Tricky night for Myles Lewis-Skelly\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lewis-Skelly will need to do far more than this if he is to force his way back ahead of Riccardo Calafiori at left-back. The 19-year-old struggled against Olise when he moved to the left flank and completed just seven of his 12 passes before making way in the 68th minute.<\/p>\n

Arsenal match ratings:<\/strong> Raya 7, Timber 9, Saliba 7, Mosquera 7, Lewis-Skelly 6, Rice 8, Zubimendi 7, Eze 6, Saka 7, Trossard 6, Merino 7. Subs: Martinelli 7, Calafiori 7, White N\/A, Odegaard N\/A.<\/p>\n

Lennart Karl, remember the name<\/strong><\/p>\n

\t\t\"Arsenal
\n\t\tLennart Karl finished off a superb Bayern move (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

Harry Kane had talked up the talents of 17-year-old Karl pre-match, and the German certainly delivered on the hype. Deployed in the No10 role, the teenager was a hive of energy and rounded off a superb Bayern move for their first goal.<\/p>\n

Harry Kane quiet on Emirates return<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kane won’t be the last striker to enjoy a quiet night up against this Arsenal backline. At times, the England captain was most involved when he was forced to track back well into his side’s half to stop Saka getting on the ball.<\/p>\n

A reminder that Arsenal are still yet to concede at home in the group\/league phase of the Champions League since returning under Arteta in the 2023\u201324 season.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Bayern Munich match ratings: <\/strong>Neuer 5, Laimer 6, Tah 6, Upamecano 5, Stanisic 6, Kimmich 6, Pavlovic 6, Olise 7, Karl 7, Gnabry 5, Kane 5. Subs: Bischof 6, Jackson 5, Goretzka N\/A, Guerreiro N\/A, Kim N\/A.<\/p>\n

Remarkably, Harry Kane was the only Bayern player not to touch the ball before Serge Gnabry found Karl to finish off the exquisite team goal, which leaves the group-stage tie finely poised heading into the second period.<\/p>\n

\u2018Lewis-Skelly falls asleep. It\u2019s a diagonal ball over to Gnabry but he falls asleep Lewis-Skelly, it goes over his head,\u2019 ex-Arsenal and England midfielder Merson said on Sky Sports<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2018But what a goal, honestly!<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Arsenal
\n\t\tKarl is the youngster player to score in his first two Champions League games (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

\u2018It goes over the top of Lewis-Skelly, Gnabry made a great run and he just plays a volley across the goal and there\u2019s Karl who comes running in and smashes it in the net.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s a phenomenal goal, a brilliant goal. Karl scores out of nothing. That\u2019s what they\u2019ve scored in their last 775 games!\u2019<\/p>\n

TNT Sports\u2019 pundits Owen Hargreaves and Martin Keown were less critical of Arsenal\u2019s defending and instead highlighted the \u2018chaos\u2019 Kane caused with his intelligent off-the-ball movement.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Arsenal
\n\t\tTimber had earlier opened the scoring for hosts Arsenal (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n

\u2018You can can talk about Lennart Karl, and he is exceptional, but look at Harry Kane, he\u2019s the one causing chaos,\u2019 former Bayern and England midfielder Hargreaves said while watching back replays of the strike at the half-time break.<\/p>\n

\u2018He drops a little bit deeper, Gnabry gets wide and it\u2019s a brilliant first-time pass and set.<\/p>\n

\u2018But look where Harry Kane is there\u2026 it gives William Saliba something to think about. He\u2019s thinking, \u201cDo I go in there?\u201d, but, actually, if he\u2019d stayed in his position he\u2019d probably have stopped the cross.<\/p>\n

\u2018Credit to Gnabry for the cross, it\u2019s amazing, and the finish from young Karl is brilliant. But Harry dropping deep has caused chaos.\u2019<\/p>\n

Ex-Arsenal defender Keown agreed with Hargreaves\u2019 assessment of the goal, chiming in: \u2018I think you\u2019re right because Saliba would then have been back, just to cover around a little bit.<\/p>\n

\u2018There\u2019s 24 passes for that goal and Harry Kane doesn\u2019t touch it, but he has an affect on the goal.\u2019<\/p>\n

For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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\nMORE: Mikel Arteta explains surprise team selection for Arsenal vs Bayern Munich<\/a><\/p>\n

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