Three observations from Bayern Munich’s 2-2 draw against Arsenal

Some will say that Vincent Kompany missed this match. Others will say that Bayern Munich were unlucky. Had Michael Olise and Joshua Kimmich been available to start, perhaps Arsenal would not have escaped the Allianz Arena with a draw.

This ignores the reality of what is truly important. Arsenal FC led by Mikel Arteta are a top class team. Of course, in an ideal world, Kompany would love to beat them. However, in the absence of ideal conditions, he had a second option: try something new.

Which is exactly why fans were greeted by the disconcerting sight of Alphonso Davies on the left wing, with Ismael Saibari and Serge Gnabry joining Harry Kane in attack. While an in-form Nathaniel Brown was on the bench for a struggling Josip Stanišić. Kompany was obviously looking for victory, but more than that, he needed information. He needed to understand the way his team plays.

No, Bayern Munich did not beat Arsenal. They were ready to do it, but they stumbled at the final hurdle. Here are the valuable insights Kompany can glean from a game like this:

Some may say it was a waste to conduct these experiments against Arsenal, with such high stakes. On the contrary, the fact that Arsenal participated in a major Champions League match is what makes the experience interesting. A proper field test, under field conditions, gives serious results. You get games like these about half a dozen times a year, and if you’re going to miss all your best players anyway, why not take advantage of the situation?

Some think Kompany made a mistake, but he probably got most of what he expected from his team. All that was missing was victory.

There are good teams and there are great teams. Then there are the world-class teams. What sets them apart?

People notice the obvious, the superstars and the fundamental tactics. They rarely realize that another type of actor holds the super-team together, the multi-role specialists.

This type of player is extremely rare, rarer than “world class”. Even having just one counts you among the best teams in the world. Bayern Munich have three.

Harry Kane saw his team stripped of 90% of its creativity, and decided that was his problem. In the absence of Olise and Kimmich, he dropped deep and took over the play from defenders, splitting defenses with passes that would put a career playmaker to shame. To achieve this, he had to partially neglect his attacking duties, but it paid off for the team in the form of goals. There is no striker in the world who can do what he does. Erling Haaland is just as world-class, but he lacks that breadth of gameplay. It’s completely unique.

Alphonso Davies plays like two players in one. This doesn’t mean he has the qualities of both a full-back and a winger (which he does), but he also interprets his role in such a way that it seems like Bayern have an extra player on the flank every time he plays. You don’t get Davies the fullback or Davies the winger, you get BOTH at the same time, when you need them. In this game, the needle was facing the winger. In others, it is usually pointed backwards. Nuno Mendes may be the best LB in a vacuum (highly debatable), but Davies does so much more.

Dayot Upamecano covers three roles at once. He holds the center of defense alone, covers whoever plays right-back and also bombs forward to support the midfield. The enormous responsibility placed on his shoulders would crush a lesser player, even if he was a better pure defender. Upa can do a little bit of everything. He can play, he can carry, he can dribble, he can recycle possession, he can win foot races with the wingers. The only thing he can’t do is split into three. If FC Bayern had three more like him, the defense would be the best in the world.

There are other world-class players in this team. Michael Olise goes without saying, Joshua Kimmich should count if there were no divided opinions. However, when it comes to players who can do several things at once, who gives the impression that the coach has a twelfth, thirteenth or fourteenth man on the pitch? These phenomena are extremely rare and must be managed with caution.

It’s incredibly difficult to train a system where some players can do three different things depending on the context. This is a “use it or lose it” situation. Kompany needs to step up and get the most out of these versatile players. Otherwise, he won’t get the edge you need to win a Champions League title.

After the second goal, FC Bayern made substitutions and slowly retreated into a shell. This isn’t the first time this has happened this season, and the trend is alarming.

Bayern Munich is not a team that can “hold on” for a result. Not under normal circumstances. Especially not against world-class opposition like the Gunners. If there is one lesson that Vincent Kompany draws from this result, it is this. Either the approach needs to change or the team needs to do something radically different in terms of game management.

There are teams that can sit back and relax with a one-goal lead. They can even do it against the best offensive players in the world. FC Bayern doesn’t play like one of them. This team has the DNA to play up front and control the game through possession. As soon as the momentum stops, the danger multiplies.

The Gunners took advantage in the second half to finally defeat Bayern and score the equalizer. Kompany got most things right given the context of this match, but this tendency towards passive action in the latter stages of close matches needs to stop. Trying to get a result could work for Augsburg. This is not working for Bayern Munich.

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