Bayern Munich's Set-Piece Grievance Overshadows Arsenal Defeat
German giants Bayern Munich have lodged an official complaint regarding Arsenal's first goal in their 3-1 Champions League defeat at the Emirates on Wednesday, November 27, 2025. The contentious moment arrived when Jurrien Timber headed the Gunners into an early lead from a Bukayo Saka corner, a goal Bayern believe should have been disallowed.
The Controversial Incident
Bayern's frustration centres on a challenge moments before the ball hit the net. The club contends that Timber should have been penalised by Italian referee Marco Guida for barging into goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, impeding him just as Saka prepared to take the corner. Neuer himself commented on the incident, stating, 'I was obviously off balance, that's clear, and then I was in a different position than I would have liked and then I couldn't get forward as much.'
The veteran goalkeeper stopped short of direct criticism but hinted at gamesmanship, noting, 'You know how they do it with set-pieces. The referees know that too.' He even suggested that a more dramatic reaction might have influenced the decision, adding, 'I'm not a goalkeeper who throws himself to the ground. You've seen others do that. Maybe that would have helped in this situation.'
Praise Amidst the Protest
Despite the dispute over the opening goal, Bayern's board member for sport, Max Eberl, was generous in his praise for Arsenal's overall performance. While he firmly believes Neuer was 'blocked and obstructed before the ball was played', he conceded that Mikel Arteta's side were worthy winners based on their dominant second-half display.
'I'm not saying they won luckily but based on the second half they deserved to win because it's simply impossible to defend, they create chaos,' Eberl admitted. He highlighted Arsenal's systematic approach to set-pieces as a key strength, revealing, 'It's no coincidence that they've scored 50 per cent of their goals from set-pieces in the last two years. That's an exceptional figure... They train it, they even have a dedicated coach for it.'
The match itself saw Bayern equalise through Lennart Karl after Timber's opener. Arsenal, however, found another gear after the break, with Noni Madueke restoring their lead before Gabriel Martinelli capitalised on a rare error from Neuer to seal the victory.
Divided Opinions from Pundits
The incident has sparked debate among football experts. Former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel sided with Bayern, telling German network Ran at half-time, 'For me, that's a clear foul because Timber pushes Neuer and throws him off balance. That's why he can't get to the ball afterwards.'
In contrast, former Bayern Munich and Germany midfielder Michael Ballack offered a dissenting view. He insisted the goal was right to stand, telling DAZN, 'For me, it wasn't enough for a foul, a normal challenge, not worthy of a penalty.'
The result leaves Arsenal in a strong position in their Champions League group, while Bayern are left to rue a controversial decision and a potent display of set-piece prowess from the North London side.
