Arsenal’s return to the Women’s Champions League ended in a crushing 5-2 defeat at Bayern Munich.
The Gunners took the lead through Mariona Caldentey and impressed in the first-half but were pegged back just before half-time following a looping header from Bayern captain Glodis Viggosdottir.
The hosts had their tails up after the interval and duly took the lead in the second-half through Sydney Lohmann but Arsenal hit back through Laia Codina, who headed in a Katie McCabe corner. Still, the parity was short-lived after former Chelsea forward Pernille Harder scored a 15-minute hat-trick to take the game away from the visitors, who had crumbled after their second goal.
Arsenal host Chelsea in the Women’s Super League on Saturday and are enduring a difficult start to the season. They drew 0-0 with Everton on Sunday and are under pressure to convince supporters they can challenge for the WSL title this season.