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Owen Hargreaves shocked by the pace of 25-year-old Arsenal player v Bayern Munich

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Arsenal, fresh off returning to the top of the Premier League table, were hoping for similar joy in the Champions League.

The Gunners, who ran out 3-0 winners at Brighton on Saturday, hosted Bayern Munich in the first leg of their quarter-final tie at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.

Arsenal got off to the perfect start by taking the lead in the 12th minute thanks to a superb curling effort from Bukayo Saka.

However, the visitors equalised soon after, with former Gunners talent Serge Gnabry striking in the 18th minute after a Gabriel Magalhaes error.

Then, in the 32nd minute, Harry Kane converted a penalty that William Saliba had conceded after tripping Leroy Sane in the Gunners box.

Four minutes later, there was a big moment for Arsenal as Ben White weighed in with a superb sliding tackle to thwart Sane.

Arsenal FC v FC Bayern München: Quarter-final First Leg - UEFA Champions League 2023/24
Photo by Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images

The Bayern ace went through on goal and it looked as though he would just sprint through for a simple one-on-one with David Raya.

However, Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard did enough to put Sane off and slow him down a bit, which culminated in White being able to get back.

Owen Hargreaves loved what he saw from the 25-year-old, praising him on TNT Sports in the aftermath of the moment.

“That’s Odegaard by the way,” said Hargreaves. “I didn’t think he had that pace to get back. He just delays him slightly and that allows Ben White to get back in.”

Ben White and Martin Odegaard intervention crucial as Arsenal salvage draw against Bayern

It kept Arsenal within a goal of Bayern, and it proved crucial as the Gunners were able to get back on level terms in the second half.

Odegaard flicked a loose ball to Saka, who played Gabriel Jesus into the box. The Brazilian got through a few challenges and squared the ball for Leandro Trossard to roll into the far corner.

There was a moment of controversy in right at the end of the match, with Saka going down in the box under pressure from Manuel Neuer.

However, referee Glenn Nyberg waved away the penalty appeals, with the final whistle going not long after.

And so the first leg ends Arsenal 2-2 Bayern, with the second leg scheduled for next Wednesday at the Allianz Arena.