Arteta's High Praise Meets Kompany's Pragmatic Response
Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany played down counterpart Mikel Arteta's suggestion that his Arsenal side had just vanquished the 'best team in Europe' following a decisive Champions League encounter at the Emirates Stadium. The match, played on November 26, 2025, saw two teams with perfect European records this season clash, with the home side emerging victorious after a stunning second-half performance.
Arsenal's Statement Victory
In a game that was evenly contested during the opening period, Arsenal's quality shone through after the interval. Substitutes Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli proved to be the difference-makers, scoring the goals that sealed a landmark win for Arteta's ever-improving squad. The victory was particularly impressive given that Arsenal overcame a shaky start to defeat a Bayern Munich team that has been in formidable form, sitting as runaway leaders in the Bundesliga and having already beaten defending champions PSG away from home in this season's competition.
Speaking after the match, a delighted Arteta was effusive in his praise for both his players and the opposition. 'I have to praise our players because I think they had an incredible match against, in my opinion, the best team in Europe,' he stated, while also emphasising the need for his team to remain grounded ahead of their next fixture against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Kompany's Cautious Rebuttal
When asked for his assessment of Arteta's generous claim, Kompany offered a more pragmatic perspective. The Bayern boss reminded everyone that being labelled the best in November holds little weight, drawing a parallel to similar comments made when they faced PSG just three weeks prior. 'I don’t think any of us want to be the best team in November,' Kompany said in his post-match press conference. 'We’re trying to use everything now to build our season towards being there in the important moments.'
Despite the defeat, Kompany, who was coached by Arteta during their time together at Manchester City, acknowledged Arsenal's superior performance on the night. He admitted that his team failed to find their rhythm in the second half and that Arsenal's game management was decisive. In a subsequent TV interview, he expressed a desire for a rematch, adding, 'I’d love to play them again as soon as possible. Hopefully in the latter stages with a good amount of learning from this game.'
The statistics from the match underscored Bayern's rare off-night. The German champions registered their lowest xG (0.69) of the campaign and managed a mere 13 touches in the Arsenal penalty area. A standout performance from Arsenal's Cristhian Mosquera effectively neutralised the threat of Harry Kane, who failed to register a single shot in a complete 90-minute match for the first time in his career against the Gunners.
