Havertz praises Bayern-Arsenal battle as Bischof highlights midfield chemistry
| Kai Havertz for Arsenal. | Photo: Julian Finney / Getty Images. |
Tom Bischof was left frustrated after Bayern Munich were held to a 2-2 draw by Arsenal, despite taking the lead in the second half and creating several opportunities to win the game.
“Ultimately, I think the result is disappointing. We were ahead, had plenty of chances, but were punished late,” Bischof said.
Despite the late equaliser, the midfielder was proud of Bayern’s collective performance and the opportunity to compete against one of Europe’s leading sides.
“It was a good team performance. We stuck together throughout, and it was great to play on this stage and at this level.”
Bischof also reflected on the tactical challenge posed by Arsenal, explaining that Bayern needed to remain difficult to play against while making smart decisions throughout the game.
“You have to be annoying and clever against teams like this. The level is brutal,” he said, adding that Arsenal’s frequent positional changes had made parts of the match difficult to read.
The Bayern midfielder also praised his partnership with Aleksandar Pavlovic, describing the pair as a well-established combination. He pointed to Kane’s tendency to drop deeper as another factor that helped Bayern’s midfield function effectively.
Bischof was full of praise for Kane, too, particularly for the pass that set up Davies’ equaliser.
“I have ‘no problem’ with Kane winning the Ballon d’Or. He’s a great player. He played an unbelievable ball to Davies before his goal. He’s a fantastic striker who scores goals and also works defensively for his team.”
Havertz, meanwhile, felt the final score reflected the balance of the contest. The Arsenal forward acknowledged that both sides had opportunities to win and praised the intensity of the individual battles.
“In the end, it was a fair result. Both teams had chances to win, and both put on a great performance. These are two of the best teams in Europe,” Havertz said.
He added that the competitive duels made the match particularly enjoyable, noting that this level of opposition is not something players experience in every game. Havertz also felt Arsenal had enjoyed good control for much of the encounter.
