LONDON — Declan Rice has cautioned Arsenal not to “get carried away” following their 3-1 victory against Bayern Munich on Wednesday, a win that helped them maintain their perfect record in the Champions League group stage.
The Gunners secured their fifth consecutive European victory this season, with contributions from Jurriën Timber, Noni Madueke, and Gabriel Martinelli, marking Bayern’s first defeat across all competitions this season.
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Teenage sensation Lennart Karl equalized Timber’s opener just after the half-hour mark, but Madueke and Martinelli, who came off the bench, turned the tide in Arsenal’s favor with a stellar second half, placing them at the top of both the Premier League and Champions League tables.
Rice remarked, “Look at Bayern Munich this season; they’ve been the best team in Europe. This was possibly the toughest tactical battle we’ve faced all year. Their approach is exceptional.
“In the second half, we went man-to-man, and I thought we were outstanding. The manager is extremely pleased; it was a memorable night in Europe.
“Yes, it definitely feels different from last season. We have many leaders in the squad and are taking it one game at a time. There’s a strong desire to win every match. There’s still a long way to go — let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
Arsenal faced Bayern in the quarterfinals two seasons ago, and manager Mikel Arteta noted, “We are different now, and so are they. This is a different stage in the competition. The previous tie had very narrow margins regarding how we exited. But that’s in the past. We hope to learn, improve, and demonstrate that.
“We have certainly shown great consistency in the tournament so far, but this is just the beginning.”