Arsenal endured a crushing defeat in their Champions League Group C opener. Despite taking a first-half lead through Mariona Caldentey, Jonas Eidevall’s side were beaten 5-2 by an energised Bayern Munich. Pernille Harder stunned Arsenal’s defence with a 13-minute hat-trick after the two sides had traded goals from Bayern’s Sydney Lohmann and Arsenal’s Laia Codina.
It may seem excessive at this early stage to think that this week could be a defining one in Arsenal’s season. Once again, however, there is trouble afoot in north London and there was no doubt going into this fixture how significant it would be before Chelsea’s visit in the Women’s Super League on Saturday. The manner of this defeat and the way Arsenal conceded the last three goals will have been particularly galling for Eidevall as pressure continues to mount.
