Football writer Tom Hancock reports on Wednesday's UEFA Champions League matches featuring Premier League clubs.
In-form Gunners end Bayern's unbeaten run to go top of another table
Arsenal 3-1 Bayern Munich
Premier League leaders Arsenal reinforced their Champions League credentials by convincingly ending Bayern Munich’s 21-game away unbeaten record to go top of the League Phase table and make it five wins from five in this season’s competition.
Still riding the wave of Sunday’s 4-1 thrashing of Tottenham Hotspur, Mikel Arteta made two changes to his starting line-up. Myles Lewis-Skelly came in for Riccardo Calafiori at left-back, while Cristhian Mosquera got the nod over Piero Hincapie alongside William Saliba, making for a brand new central defensive partnership.
Arsenal have struggled against Bayern historically, but it came as no great surprise when Jurrien Timber rose to head in from Bukayo Saka's typically dangerous corner and break the deadlock. It was Arsenal’s 17th set-piece goal of the campaign in all competitions, penalties excluded, and their 10th from corners alone.
The Gunners’ lead was short-lived, though, 17-year-old sensation Lennart Karl rounding off a slick move for Bayern’s equaliser. For the first time since May, Arteta's side had conceded in successive home games.
Arsenal began the second half in lively fashion and Mosquera went close to opening his Gunners account, forcing a sharp reaction save from Manuel Neuer as a riveting encounter continued at frenetic pace, mainly from Arsenal. Moments later, Declan Rice burst into the box, only for another fine save by Neuer and some brilliant last-ditch defending from Konrad Laimer to keep the score at 1-1.
But Arsenal were soon rewarded for their persistence, scoring twice in the space of seven minutes to go 3-1 up and put the game beyond Bayern. First, Noni Madueke buried fellow substitute Calafiori's first-time cross; then, another second-half introduction, Gabriel Martinelli underscored the Gunners’ strength in depth when he latched on to Eberechi Eze's pass, rounded a stranded Neuer and stroked the ball into an empty net.
It was the eighth goal involvement by an Arsenal substitute this season, the most in the competition.
At the other end of the pitch, they stifled England captain Harry Kane to the point that he didn't have a single shot in 90 minutes, the first time that has happened in all his meetings with them. During his long career with Spurs, he scored 14 Premier League goals against Arsenal, more than any other player in the competition.
The only concern was Leandro Trossard going off in the first half.
The Gunners are now unbeaten in 16 matches in all competitions, and Arteta appears to be taking it all in his stride.
"Individually, we were immense," he said. "After yesterday, they [the players] know how hard they work to prepare for every single game.
"Today is another massive victory. Now we go home, have a nice dinner, and go to Stamford Bridge [on Sunday]."
Now out in front domestically and continentally, Arsenal will head into their London derby away to Chelsea in the Premier League with an almighty spring in their step.
Slot's men humbled at home by PSV
Liverpool 1-4 PSV Eindhoven
Liverpool suffered yet more misery as PSV Eindhoven ran riot at Anfield and inflicted a third straight loss on Arne Slot’s side in all competitions.
Perhaps surprisingly in the wake of Saturday’s chastening 3-0 home Premier League defeat to Nottingham Forest, Slot kept his starting 11 almost identical. Hugo Ekitike replaced Alexander Isak up front, while the only other change was enforced, Giorgi Mamardashvili coming in between the sticks with Alisson absent through illness.
So, it was a familiar line-up for Liverpool – and it was soon a familiar story as, for the 10th time already this season, they conceded the first goal. With barely five minutes gone at Anfield, Ivan Perisic sent Mamardashvili the wrong way from 12 yards after Reds captain Virgil van Dijk had handled the ball while defending a corner. Van Dijk has now given away three penalties in all competitions this season, more than any other Premier League player.
However, unlike in each of their last two games – 3-0 Premier League defeats away to Manchester City and at home to Forest – Liverpool got themselves back on level terms, stand-in right-back Dominik Szoboszlai scoring his third goal of the campaign in all competitions after Cody Gakpo's initial effort was saved.
Going in all square at the break and having had 13 shots to the visitors’ five in the opening 45 minutes, Liverpool might have felt momentum was with them going into the second half. Instead, PSV seized the initiative back, Guus Til restoring the Eredivisie leaders' advantage.
PSV weren’t done there, though, as substitute Couhaib Driouech bagged a brace to ensure a nightmarish evening at Anfield for the reigning Premier League champions.
The Reds have now conceded three or more goals in three consecutive games for the first time since December 1992 and have lost nine of their last 12 matches in all competitions. It's the club's worst run of form since 1953/54.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Slot tried to find the positives. He said: "We came back into the game and had enough chances to go 2-1 up and at half-time, I don’t think anyone would have expected us to lose 4-1.
"After conceding to make it 2-1, we had chances to make it 2-2, and then we conceded another goal. It’s hard to take."
Liverpool's head coach acknowledged his side's predicament, adding: "We have to face what we’re in, and fight really hard."
The Reds will be desperate to stop the rot when they head to West Ham United on Sunday. They are down in 12th place in the Premier League going into the weekend, and now one place lower than that in the Champions League table after their humbling by PSV. The Eredivisie champions have inflicted more defeats on Slot (five) than any other club in his managerial career.
UEFA Champions League table
Spurs' defensive frailties exposed by ruthless European champions
Paris Saint-Germain 5-3 Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur's defensive woes continued at the hands of Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain.
After seeing his team go down 4-1 at arch-rivals Arsenal last time out in the Premier League, Thomas Frank made five changes for the trip to the French capital, with Randal Kolo Muani – on loan from PSG and, per Champions League rules, allowed to face his parent club – among those to come in.
Having kept PSG at bay for the opening 35 minutes, Spurs took the lead through their first shot of the game, Kolo Muani, crossing for Richarlison to head home his third goal in as many appearances, having registered in the Premier League against Manchester United and Arsenal.
But Thomas Frank’s team couldn’t quite hold on until half-time, with Vitinha producing an unstoppable long-range strike to draw the hosts level just before the break.
Spurs were soon giving their supporters cause to celebrate again, though, making an ideal start to the second half as Kolo Muani got himself on the scoresheet with an emphatic finish after PSG failed to clear a corner. It was the Frenchman’s first goal for the club at the 10th time of asking.
An increasingly dramatic night quickly took a turn for the worse as far as Spurs were concerned, however. Vitinha netted his second goal of the night before strikes from Willian Pacho and Fabian Ruiz in quick succession put the game seemingly beyond the Premier League side.
Kolo Muani's second goal, a powerful low finish after dispossessing Vitinha on the edge of the box, offered Spurs a lifeline, only for skipper Cristian Romero's handball to present PSG with the opportunity to surely finish the job.
Vitinha duly completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot, ultimately condemning Spurs to a third match without victory for the first time since March. The stoppage-time red card given to PSG substitute Lucas Hernandez for elbowing Xavi Simons had no bearing on the contest.
Despite the result and his side's slide to 16th place in the Champions League, Frank was full of praise for his players. "I am very pleased with the performance," he told TNT Sports.