Mikel Arteta’s deep talent pool and Monster Declan Rice – Storylines from Arsenal’s UEFA Champions League victory over Bayern Munich

The win makes it five from five for Mikel Arteta’s side after goals from Jurrien Timber, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli made it a memorable night for The Gunners.

From the Emirates, here are some of the main talking points.

Sub-machine guns!

Arsenal’s improvement over the years has been largely down to Mikel Arteta building a solid first XI, but there have always been questions over what happens when certain pieces of his red and white Jenga tower are taken away.

This season, however, the Arsenal boss has gone out of his way to construct a squad that, on current form, is the envy of Europe.

When the in-form Leandro Trossard suffered an early injury, Arteta was able to introduce summer signing Noni Madueke, who himself had been out of action for several weeks.

The former Chelsea man went on to score having been teed up by Riccardo Calafiori, also off the bench.

Arsenal’s third of the night came courtesy of another substitute back from injury in Gabriel Martinelli.

Oh, and meanwhile, captain Martin Odegaard also came on late in the game, while the absence of Gabriel at centre-back went unnoticed thanks to the competency of stand-in Cristhian Mosquera.

Already flying high in both the Premier League and Champions League this season, and with the squad approaching something close to full fitness, it could be scary times ahead for their rivals in both competitions.

‘What an impact’ – Madueke scores first ever UCL goal as Arsenal lead Bayern

Video credit: TNT Sports

The Rice man cometh

Arsenal fans’ ‘we got him half price’ chant for £105m signing Declan Rice is meant to be tongue-in-cheek, but after another lung-busting display from the ex-West Ham man, expect to hear the ditty a lot more from the Emirates faithful.

Initially considered more of a defensive player, or a No. 6, since moving to Arsenal, Rice has undergone something of a metamorphosis into an all-action box-to-box star, launching Arsenal’s and breaking up opponents’ attacks in equal measure.

Against Bayern, the 26-year-old played like a man possessed, particularly in the second half, earning him the Player of the Match award.

“Declan Rice has stepped on the accelerator,” said Ally McCoist on TNT Sports. “And he’s taken the entire team with him.”

Debate will continue to rage about which players are the ‘best’ in certain positions, but with Rice going toe-to-toe with Chelsea’s own midfield general Moises Caicedo this coming weekend in a mouth-watering table-topping Premier League clash, it will be a chance to see how two of the very best stack up against one another.

Declan Rice touch map v Bayern Munich

Image credit: Getty Images

Declan Rice heat map v Bayern Munich

Image credit: Getty Images

Earning his Karl up

The only possible blot in The Gunners’ copybook on the night and one of few positives for the visitors was the impression left by young Lennart Karl.

That Arsenal’s first goal conceded in this year’s competition came against Bayern would not be of great surprise to many, however, the identity of the goalscorer might well make people sit up and take notice.

Undaunted by neither the opposition nor the occasion, the 17-year-old ghosted between The Gunners’ centre-backs to fire the ball past David Raya.

Teenager Karl draws Bayern level at Arsenal – ‘How about that?!’

Video credit: TNT Sports

The youngster looked lively and was keen to try and make things happen on a difficult night for his side.

At 1-1, he also had another great chance to score his second but placed the ball too close to David Raya.

Karl’s strike was his fourth already this season and he will certainly be one to watch for the future, both for Bayern and Germany.

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