Iconic former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand was shocked by one thing he saw as Arsenal drew 2-2 with Bayern Munich.
Arsenal came back into the game after the break to salvage a 2-2 draw against Bayern Munich in the first-leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash on Tuesday night.
Arsenal were roared on by a raucous crowd at the Emirates Stadium, and started well against Bayern Munich. Bukayo Saka picked out the bottom corner to put the Gunners ahead in their first Champions League quarter-final outing in 14 years.
However, after that moment, the inexperience in Mikel Arteta’s squad began to tell. Nerves seemed to get the better of the home side as they were guilty of a couple of uncharacteristic errors.
How Arsenal fought back against Bayern Munich
At this level, mistakes rarely go unpunished, and Bayern Munich were quick to pounce. Firstly, after Gabriel Magalhaes gave the ball away as he sought to cover for the out-of-position David Raya, the German outfit quickly worked the ball to Serge Gnabry, who duly found the back of the net against his former club.
Around the half hour mark, Leroy Sane was allowed to breeze past Jakub Kiwior and move into the Arsenal box, where he was brought down by William Saliba. Harry Kane converted the resultant spot-kick to put his team 2-1 up.
The Arsenal defence has been rock solid this season, but the scale of the occasion looked to get the better of them in the first half against the German giants.
However, Arteta’s men fought back admirably after the break. The Spanish coach turned to his bench, and Oleksandr Zinchenko, Leandro Trossard, and Gabriel Jesus added valuable experience.
The latter duo were able to have a particularly big impact, as they combined to provide the equalising goal. Arsenal fans were wowed by Jesus as he picked out Trossard in the box, who then found the bottom corner.
READ MORE: Arsenal’s all-time record vs Bayern Munich
Rio Ferdinand shocked by Bukayo Saka incident
After that goal, there were nearly moments for both side. Bayern Munich hit the post, and in the last action of the match Saka felt he was brought down by Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in the box.
The Arsenal winger certainly beat Neuer to the ball, and flicked it beyond him, and there was then clear contact between the two players. The 22-year-old attacker went down and was adamant that he had been fouled.
Referee Glenn Nyberg had a great view of the incident, though, and did not point to the spot.
Reviewing the incident as a pundit on TNT Sports, Rio Ferdinand exclaimed, “I can’t believe that’s not been given! That is a penalty, I’m in disbelief.”
However, Arsenal legend Ian Wright was less convinced. The former striker took to X to say, “Not a pen for me.”
Saka will feel that we was unfairly impeded and denied a clear goalscoring opportunity. Neuer, meanwhile, would argue that the England star threw his leg out in search of contact. In any case, the tie remains in the balance heading into the second-leg.