Arsenal Fans Relieved After Salvaging Draw vs. Bayern Munich in UCL QF 1st Leg

The 2024 UEFA Champions League quarterfinals matchup between Arsenal and Bayern Munich will all come down to the second leg.

The two sides played to a 2-2 draw in Tuesday's first leg at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, meaning Bayern Munich will have the opportunity to advance with a home victory.

Bukayo Saka scored the opening goal for the Gunners, but Serge Gnabry and Harry Kane answered to put the visitors ahead. Just when it looked like Bayern Munich would steal a road win, Leandro Trossard scored the final goal on a chance created by Gabriel Jesus to salvage a draw.

There was no shortage of reaction from social media, including some relief from Arsenal fans that their side emerged with a draw:

Arsenal was the side that entered Tuesday's match in better form.

The Gunners are atop the Premier League table and in a fierce battle with Liverpool and Manchester City. They were also coming off consecutive wins against Luton Town and

Brighton & Hove Albion following a scoreless draw with Manchester City.

Bayern Munich, on the other hand, is well behind Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga table and dropped their previous two matches. Still the Champions League was a fresh slate for Kane's side even if this matchup meant the Arsenal fans consistently jeered the former star for rival Tottenham.

Those jeers quickly turned into cheers with a fast start, as Saka opened the scoring in the 12th minute with a beautiful left-footed strike that curled into the bottom corner of the net off a perfectly placed assist from Ben White. Throw in Alphonso Davies' early yellow card, which leaves him suspended for the second leg, and Arsenal couldn't have asked for a better start.

However, an ugly turnover from the home side ended that momentum. Leon Goretzka took full advantage with a through ball to Gnabry, who buried the equalizer against his former club in the 18th minute.

As if that wasn't bad enough for the Arsenal supporters, Kane capitalized on a penalty kick to put the visitors in the lead in the 32nd minute.

While the explosive start stalled into a stagnant back and forth for much of the second half with Bayern Munich committing additional defenders to the back end, Arsenal finally found some magic when Jesus knifed his way through multiple defenders and set up Trossard for the equalizer in the 76th minute.

The frustrated crowd came to life with the goal, but Arsenal was unable to capitalize on the additional energy down the stretch despite a controversial ending that almost saw a penalty on Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. Bayern Munich also almost scored when Kingsley Coman hit the post in stoppage time, but the final whistle blew with the score still tied.

The two sides will have to decide it at Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena on Wednesday, April 17, in the second leg.