Arsenal favourites against Bayern but Arteta wary of Kane threat
In-form Arsenal will be seeking to set the record straight when they face Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday but will be wary of a familiar face who simply loves scoring against the Gunners.
The last time the two clubs clashed in the competition in 2017, Bayern Munich won both legs of their last-16 tie 5-1 — a humiliating outcome that underlined Arsenal’s decline.
Arsenal only returned to the Champions League this season and have thrived, reaching their first quarter-final since the 2009-10 season while challenging for the Premier League title.
Such is their form and Bayern’s current struggles that they will go up against the six-times champions as favourites to set up a clash against either Manchester City or Real Madrid.
But the sight of former Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane in Munich’s ranks will be a concern for the home faithful.
Kane scored a record 14 goals in 19 north London derbies and the England captain will be fired-up to bring his former team’s rivals and current Premier League leaders back down to earth.
“When you look at his numbers over the past 10 years they are unbelievable,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta told reporters on Monday. “He can score in many different ways.
“He has got the service and the players around him as well to provide those opportunities… But it’s not only him but the 10 other individuals that they have.
“We know the individual qualities of those players, and him in particular. The ability he has. The best thing is to collectively prevent certain things.”
BELOW STANDARD
While Arsenal are potentially seven matches away from winning their first English title for 20 years, Bayern have fallen way short of their normal standards in the Bundesliga and are 16 points behind runaway leaders Bayer Leverkusen.
Their manager Thomas Tuchel will leave at the end of the season but, despite his problems, Arteta is a big fan of the German who won the Champions League with Chelsea.
“They are a top team. I am a big admirer of Thomas. The way his teams set up, the way they play, the way they transmit,” Arteta said. “I have learned a lot from him.”
The Spaniard is not reading too much into Bayern’s disappointing league season, saying they are still an imposing hurdle.
“Football is such a competitive environment and so difficult to be consistent that this can happen to anybody,” he said of the form which saw Bayern lose to Heidenheim at the weekend.
Bayern will have no fans at The Emirates on Tuesday as punishment for fireworks being thrown in the previous round against Lazio and Arteta has called on the home supporters to make the atmosphere a cauldron.
“A full house! A lot of passion and emotion. We haven’t had this opportunity for 15 years, so that tells you how special this night is going to be for us,” Arteta said.
Asked if he would be quizzing Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso about how to beat Bayern, Arteta was tight-lipped.
“Great question but I’m not going to answer that!” he said.