Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane is no stranger to playing big matches against Arsenal, having squared off against the Gunners 22 times across his spells with Tottenham and Bayern.
Most recently, Arsenal beat Bayern 3-1 in the Champions League group phase last season, but Kane will be hoping things are different this week. While he didn’t score against Mikel Arteta’s side last season, he has found the net 15 times in 22 appearances against them—all of which came while playing for Tottenham, aside from his goal in the first leg of the 2024 Champions League quarterfinals.
While there may not be as much vitriol as there is for the North London derby between Tottenham and Arsenal, Bayern vs. Arsenal certainly has plenty of recent Champions League history, and Kane is relishing the chance to go up against his former league rivals once again.
Bayern have slipped up three times so far this season—drawing 0-0 with Schalke, 2-2 with Augsburg, and 3-3 with Viking FK—but the squad enters this match with strong momentum following their 6-1 thrashing of RB Leipzig over the weekend. They will still be without the likes of Jamal Musiala and Michael Olise, and potentially even manager Vincent Kompany on the touchline as he recovers from an illness and hip injury. Even so, there is no reason Bayern cannot beat the Gunners. Brighton & Hove Albion provided a blueprint for breaking down Arteta’s side earlier this season with a 3-0 win at the Amex heading into the international break.
“When you’re playing against one of the best teams in Europe, you always have to savour moments like this. We’re up for the challenge. We’re playing here at home—the energy, the fans—it’s sure to be a special night. We need to carry the momentum we had against Leipzig into Wednesday’s game. We’re expecting a tough match, so we need to approach it with a clear head. We’re all looking forward to it,” Kane said ahead of the Arsenal clash (FC Bayern via @iMiaSanMia).
Bayern have struggled this season against teams setting up in lower blocks à la Schalke, Augsburg, and Viking FK, all of whom also ventured forward to positive effect. Still, the outcome depends on which Arsenal team shows up at the Allianz Arena. They sat deeper in a narrow 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest over the weekend, registering only one shot on target—a stark contrast to their usual attacking style this season.
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