Tottenham 2-7 Bayern Munich: 5 Talking Points and Tactical Analysis | Champions League 2019-20

#1 Serge Gnabry's triumphant return to north London

Serge Gnabry was unstoppable against Tottenham, a familiar foe who made his triumphant return here

This was simply the Serge Gnabry masterclass. If you've watched him play since his teenage years, through that infamous loan spell and after having the courage to fly the nest from north London comforts at Arsenal, you'd know this type of performance was always brewing.

After all, he was named Bayern's Player of the Season last term. It was his first full campaign with the Bavarians, after successful year-long spells at Werder Bremen and on-loan at Hoffenheim. But for everything to come together the way it did on this occasion? Serge couldn't have asked for a better evening's work against an old rival.

Booked midway through the first-half for a cynical sliding challenge on Harry Winks, ironic jeers reverberated around Tottenham's new stadium as they reacted to a familiar foe being penalised for over-exuberance in possession. He ended up having the last laugh.

Working hard defensively, he protected David Alaba down the left-hand side, unfazed by the early booking. It was almost as though he was playing a wing-back role at times, such was the 24-year-old's eagerness to contribute defensively and intercept Tottenham danger in its tracks. That made sense, given Spurs' purposeful start.

He could have let that get to him but instead, continued his work and once he had an opportunity to express himself near the final third? Well, the scoreline tells the full story. Given the erratic fullback's poor form, he unsurprisingly relished one-on-one duels with Serge Aurier and quickly got to exposing his flaws to devastating effect on numerous occasions.

Here, he netted his first senior hat-trick and still had time for a late fourth to cap an extraordinary evening against a vulnerable Tottenham backline could struggled to get near him all night long. Four goals, three successful dribbles, two key passes (82.9% pass accuracy), one assist, 11 of 19 duels won, four tackles completed.

He's enjoyed many memorable moments as a professional, but this was arguably his best night - powering Bayern to victory with precisely the type of decision-making, poise and deadly finishing which justifies the decision he made to leave Arsenal in the first place.

It's been three years since leaving the Emirates for a measly £4.5m. His worth has risen to a ridiculous scale since, while he continues establishing himself as a world-class commodity in a Bayern side struggling to accommodate players of his capabilities in recent seasons.