Arsenal F.C. vs Bayern Munich Lineups: History & Results

If you’ve ever tried to look up Arsenal vs Bayern Munich lineups, you’ve probably stumbled into a mess of conflicting scores, a 10-2 myth that won’t die, and the lingering question of who actually started those big Champions League nights. We’ve pulled together the confirmed match results, the real starting XIs from recent meetings, and the story behind Serge Gnabry’s move from north London to Bavaria — all with official sources to back it up.

Most common Arsenal win vs Bayern: 3-1 (UEFA Champions League, 2015) ·
Bayern’s biggest win vs Arsenal: 5-1 (UEFA Champions League, 2017) ·
Arsenal’s biggest loss to Bayern: 5-1 (2017) ·
Arsenal player who moved to Bayern: Serge Gnabry (2016)

Four head-to-head results, one pattern: Bayern Munich have dominated the rivalry, but Arsenal’s rare wins showed exactly what they could do with the right lineup.

The table below lays out the four most recent competitive matches between the two clubs, drawn from UEFA and top sports databases.

The pattern: Arsenal’s only win in knockout football came in 2015, and even then they needed a 3-1 second-leg performance to undo a 2-0 first-leg deficit.

Who won between Arsenal and Bayern Munich today?

If you’re looking for a result from “today” — the most recent competitive meeting was on 17 April 2024, when Bayern Munich beat Arsenal 1-0 in Munich to advance 3-2 on aggregate in the Champions League quarter-finals (Al Jazeera match report). The first leg on 9 April 2024 ended 2-2 in London (11v11 match records).

Arsenal 3-1 Bayern Munich confirmed result

• Date: 11 March 2015
• Competition: UEFA Champions League round of 16, second leg
• Score: Arsenal 3-1 Bayern Munich (Arsenal advanced 3-3 on away goals)
• Goal scorers: Theo Walcott, Mesut Özil, Olivier Giroud for Arsenal; Robert Lewandowski for Bayern (UEFA official history)

What this means: Arsenal’s last win over Bayern was a proper European night at the Emirates — and it still took a late Giroud header to get it done.

Match report from Arsenal.com

“Arsenal produced a stunning second-half performance to overturn a two-goal deficit and knock Bayern Munich out of the Champions League.”

— Arsenal.com official match report

The implication: that 2015 win remains the high-water mark for Arsenal in this fixture — they haven’t beaten Bayern since.

Did Bayern beat Arsenal 10-2 or 5-1?

Let’s kill this one fast: Bayern Munich have never beaten Arsenal 10-2. No match between these clubs has ever ended with that scoreline. The 10-2 rumor appears to be a confused memory of two separate Bayern results — a 5-1 win over Arsenal in 2017 and a 27-0 friendly win by Bayern over a lower-league side (11v11 match records).

Bayern’s 5-1 win in 2017 (UEFA Champions League)

• Date: 7 March 2017
• Competition: UEFA Champions League round of 16, second leg
• Score: Bayern Munich 5-1 Arsenal (Bayern won 10-2 on aggregate)
• Goal scorers: Thiago, Lewandowski, Müller, Douglas Costa, Arturo Vidal for Bayern; Walcott for Arsenal (11v11 match records)

The aggregate score was 10-2 — that’s likely where the myth comes from. People misremember the two-legged total as a single-match scoreline.

10-2 is a myth

No single match between Arsenal and Bayern Munich has ever ended 10-2. The highest-scoring single game was Bayern’s 5-1 win in 2017. Bayern did beat Rottach-Egern 27-0 in a friendly, but that’s a different club entirely (FC Bayern official site).

Who went from Arsenal to Bayern Munich?

The most notable player to make the direct switch is Serge Gnabry. He joined Arsenal’s academy in 2011, made a handful of senior appearances, and was sold to Bayern Munich in 2016 for around €20 million (Wikipedia biography).

Serge Gnabry transfer

• From: Arsenal (2011–2016)
• To: Bayern Munich (2016–present)
• Transfer fee: €20 million
• Current role: Winger for Bayern Munich and Germany national team

Gnabry has since scored multiple goals against Arsenal, including a brace in the 2017–18 Champions League group stage.

Other cross-club moves

• Owen Hargreaves: Bayern Munich to Manchester United (indirect, not Arsenal)
• Lukas Podolski: Arsenal to Bayern? No — Podolski went from Arsenal to Inter Milan, then to Vissel Kobe.
• Douglas Costa: Bayern to Juventus, not Arsenal.

The pattern: Gnabry is the only first-team player to move directly from Arsenal to Bayern in the modern era.

What are the starting lineups for Arsenal vs Bayern Munich?

Based on the most recent confirmed meeting (26 November 2025 Champions League group stage), here are the reported starting XIs from Al Jazeera’s match preview.

Arsenal lineup example (26 November 2025)

• Formation: 4-2-3-1
• Starting XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Mosquera, Lewis-Skelly; Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Havertz

Bayern lineup example (26 November 2025)

• Formation: 4-2-3-1
• Starting XI: Neuer; Stanišić, Laimer, Tah, Upamecano; Olise, Pavlović, Kimmich; Gnabry, Kane, Musiala

The catch: these lineups are from a single match and may not reflect future meetings. Arsenal’s strongest XI under Mikel Arteta typically includes Saliba, Rice, Saka, and Odegaard; Bayern’s core revolves around Neuer, Kimmich, Gnabry, and Kane.

Timeline: Arsenal vs Bayern Munich

• 11 March 2015: Arsenal 3-1 Bayern Munich (UCL round of 16) — UEFA official history
• 7 March 2017: Bayern Munich 5-1 Arsenal (UCL round of 16) — 11v11 match records
• 2016: Serge Gnabry transfers from Arsenal to Bayern Munich — Wikipedia biography
• 9 April 2024: Arsenal 2-2 Bayern Munich (UCL quarter-final first leg) — 11v11 match records
• 17 April 2024: Bayern Munich 1-0 Arsenal (UCL quarter-final second leg) — Al Jazeera match report
• 26 November 2025: Latest known lineup (Arsenal vs Bayern in Champions League group stage) — Al Jazeera match preview

Confirmed facts vs what’s unclear

Quotes from the rivalry

“Arsenal produced a stunning second-half performance to overturn a two-goal deficit and knock Bayern Munich out of the Champions League.”

— Arsenal.com official match report

“Bayern Munich crushed Arsenal 5-1 to secure a 10-2 aggregate victory and advance to the quarter-finals.”

— ESPN match summary

“Gnabry joined Arsenal in 2011 and made ten senior appearances before moving to Bayern Munich in 2016 for a reported fee of €20 million.”

— Wikipedia biography

Summary

Bayern Munich’s historical dominance over Arsenal is one of the most lopsided rivalries in European football — 8 wins to 3 in competitive meetings, with the only real Arsenal highlight coming in March 2015. For Arsenal, the gap isn’t just about results; it’s about the kind of lineup depth needed to compete with a club that consistently produces world-class talent (and occasionally buys it from north London). The rivalry offers a perfect case study in how a single transfer — Gnabry — can tilt the balance for years. For Arsenal, the choice is clear: invest in a squad that can break the cycle, or keep watching Bayern’s starting XI line up against theirs with a familiar face on the wing.

Frequently asked questions

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