Bayern Munich bosses leapt to the defence of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer after the German champions suffered their first loss of the season, 2-0 at Arsenal on Tuesday, after luck and their usual lethal touch in front of goal deserted them.

The German World Cup winner gifted Arsenal the opening goal in a rare moment of uncertainty, when he came out to meet a Santi Cazorla free kick but flapped at the ball and substitute Olivier Giroud bundled it home for the first goal Bayern have conceded in the competition.

“In the Champions League you have to be perfect in every aspect of your game and we weren't perfect in some of them,” Bayern coach Pep Guardiola told reporters.

“We did not lose because of Manuel Neuer because he made some superb saves in the first half. We had enough chances to decide the game in our favour,” the coach said.

“We came here to close our qualification and we could not do that so we now have to go to the next game.”

The Germans had won their previous 12 matches in all domestic and European competitions this season in a record-breaking season start but it proved an unlucky 13 as they suffered a rare defeat.

With the English side playing an unusually defensive game at the start, Bayern could have scored on several occasions but neither Robert Lewandowski nor Thiago Alcantara could convert their chances before Neuer's blunder.

Instead it was Arsenal who scored twice, with German Mesut Ozil sealing the win in stoppage time.

“Obviously a defeat is never nice but I think it was still a high-level Champions League game,” said Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

“The luckier team won but it could equally have been us. But in two weeks time in the game in Munich against Arsenal we will turn it around.”

Bayern are still top of Group F on six points, as many as Greek champions Olympiakos, with Arsenal on three along with Dinamo Zagreb.

The Bavarians, eyeing a record fourth consecutive Bundesliga title, are again considered Champions League contenders, a trophy Guardiola has not won with the club in his previous two seasons.

With that title also in their sights, Bayern will get up, dust off and keep working, defender Jerome Boateng promised.

“Overall it was just too little from us. We will work to get better now,” Boateng said.

Belief for Gunners

Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal's memorable 2-0 win against Bayern Munich will give his players the belief to complete their Champions League escape act.

Wenger's side had put themselves in a perilous position after losing their opening two Group F fixtures against Dinamo Zagreb and Olympiakos, but they clawed their way back into the battle to reach the last 16 in dramatic fashion at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.

Battered by Bayern's intelligent movement and astute passing, the Gunners were under seige for long periods and could have succumbed to a defeat that would have left them on the verge of failing to make the knockout stages for the first time in 16 years.

Arsenal head to Munich on November 4 with renewed hope.

Gunners boss Wenger is confident they can maintain the momentum of an impressive recent run which also included a 3-0 rout of Manchester United.

“We were not at our level of focus in the first two European games because we were thinking about the Premier League, but tonight we had that focus,” Wenger said.

“You never know if you will win, but I knew the team focus and dynamic was there.

“Overall we have beaten a very strong team and kept a good level of focus from the first minute.

“This can strengthen our belief and the belief of people around us.

“We won 3-0 against Man Utd, 3-0 against Watford and 2-0 tonight. If we defend well and score then it shows the balance is right.”

Despite their gritty efforts, Wenger knows Arsenal still have little margin for error to make the last 16 and, asked if he thought his team would qualify now, he said: “I don't know. We need a result at Bayern in our next game.”

Different option

Having Giroud back to his best would certainly help.

After losing his place as Arsenal's central striker to Theo Walcott this season, Giroud reminded Wenger of his qualities as he came off the bench to score the crucial opener.

“Giroud had a little dip in form, but I see in the last two weeks he is coming back to his best,” Wenger said.

“You have to give him some credit. It's not easy because he is used to being in the team.

“But he is a winner and when he comes on he gives us a different option.”

The only frustration for Wenger on one of the most memorable European nights of his 19-year reign was the hamstring injury that forced off Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey in the second half and could keep him out for some while.

“He's not happy. He told me it's a tough injury,” Wenger added.