Arsenal beat Bayern on penalties, after a late header from Alex Iwobi ensured the two sides were level after normal time.

Arsenal toiled away in the sweltering Chinese heat in the cavernous Shanghai Stadium as they drew 1-1 with Bayern Munich.

There was a late alteration to the Arsenal starting eleven as Per Mertesacker dropped out due to illness. Mohamed Elneny came into the middle of the back three. Ainsley Maitland-Niles filled in at right wing back, while Alexandre Lacazette started up front for the first time.

Bayern looked the much sharper team in the opening exchanges, being first to the ball several times and forcing Arsenal to turnover the ball. They are awarded an early penalty when Juan Bernat drove down the left hand side and into Arsenal’s penalty area.

Maitland-Niles made a lazy challenge that didn’t seem to make much contact with the Spaniard. Lewandowski took the penalty and smashed it into the top corner.

Arsenal responded with their first chance of the game. Welbeck got away down the left and floated a lovely ball into the box for the late-arriving Ozil to volley first time. He struck it well, but hit it straight at Stark in the Bayern goal.

We continued to look leggy and on twenty minutes should have been 2-0 down. Lewandowski flicked the ball past a static Arsenal defence for James Rodriguez, who finsihed confidently past Cech. The goal, however, was ruled out for offside despite the Colombian being a good two yards onside.

After a drinks break on the 30 minute mark, Lacazette had a fantastic chance to draw Arsenal level. Ozil slid the ball through the Bayern defene, but Lacazette’s effort was well-saved by Stark. That’s the sort of big chance you hope Lacazette will gobble up regularly next season.

Bayern looked a threat whenever they came forward, especially down the left hand side. Ribery against Maitland-Niles was a mismatch, and Arsenal just about managed to clear the ball from the resulting chaos. Cech also had to make a couple of sharp saves to keep-out two deflected efforts.

Cech rescued Arsenal again just before half-time. James Rodriguez ghosted in behind Arsenal’s backline and had all the time in the world to take the ball down and get a shot away. Fortunately, Cech was on hand to smother the shot.

Kolasinac was subbed off three minutes before half-time, likely due to injury or illness. He was replaced by Reiss Nelson. Bayern continued to attack, and Arsenal were fortunate to go in at half-time just a goal down.

Arsenal made four changes at half-time, with Cohen Bramall, Alex Iwobi, Joe Willock and Theo Walcott coming on for Bielik, Coquelin, Ozil and Lacazette.

They were carved open a few times in the first few minutes of the second half, but Bayern were surprisingly wasteful with their chances.

The most notable thing about the first part of the second half was how awful the ref was as he got several decisions wrong. Booking Elneny for being tackled was a particular highlight.

Granit Xhaka was withdrawn on the hour to be replaced by Aaron Ramsey. That was about the most remarkable thing of the second half to that point, as the heat seemed to take its toll on the players.

It wasn’t until the 78th minute that there was another chance in the game. Walcott managed to escape the attention of the Bayern defender and cut inside onto his right foot, only to shoot straight at Fruchtl in the Bayern goal.

With the game dragging itself to the finish line, Arsenal managed a quick, incisive counter attak. Iwobi carried the ball up the pitch and released Ramsey down the left. Ramsey put the ball into the penalty to find Iwobi, who carried on his run, to head into the bottom corner.

The game ended Arsenal 1 – 1 Bayern Munich and went to a penalty shootout. Arsenal won the shootout 3-2, with Emi Martinez winning by saving Bernat’s shot.