DPA/London

Manuel Neuer left the traditional post-game banquet early although no one wanted to blame the Germany goalkeeper too much for his blunder that led to the opening goal in their 2-0 Champions League defeat at Arsenal.
“Don’t blame Manu,” forward Thomas Mueller said, and coach Pep Guardiola was also quick to point out that “we didn’t lose because of Manuel.”
Neuer was stranded in a crowded penalty area which allowed Oliver Giroud to head home Santi Carzola’s free-kick in the 76th minute.  Another world class save from him against Mesut Oezil in stoppage time unfortunately came behind the goal-line as Arsenal wrapped up matters.
“It was my fault. If I stay on my line, nothing happens,” Neuer said about the first goal.
However, Neuer had also spared Bayern from an early deficit when he made a sensational save by diving to his left and deny Theo Walcott’s point blank range header as the Arsenal forward was already set to celebrate.
Neuer is rated the best goalkeeper in the world but he has had the odd mishap throughout his career.
But more important on the night at the Emirates was that Bayern did not turn their 73 per cent possession and 21 shots into goals, with neither in-form Robert Lewandowski nor Mueller or others finding the net.
Bayern failed to score a goal for the first time this season as their winning run in all competitions ended in the 13th game.
But they remain on top of their group with six points ahead of a home date with the Gunners in early November, and Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said “the players left the pitch with their heads held high.”
Rummenigge rather looked ahead as Bayern can make amends on Saturday when they host Cologne in the Bundesliga, seeking to stretch their league start record to 10 wins out of 10.
“It could be a record that stands for all time,” Rummenigge said of a scenario which would also mean an unrivalled 1,000th Bayern win overall in the German top flight.