Arsenal will “not be afraid” of Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane when they face the German champions in the Champions League quarter-finals, captain Martin Odegaard has said.
Kane has scored 38 goals since joining Bayern from Tottenham Hotspur last summer, with 14 goals in 19 games for Spurs against the Gunners.
The first leg at Emirates Stadium will take place on Tuesday at 20:00 BST.
”[He’s] He's a good player and we know his quality in the box,'' Odegaard said.
“I think we should respect him, but I also think we should not be afraid of anyone and focus on ourselves.”
Kane has scored six goals in eight games this season, putting him at the top of the Champions League scoring list, a feat that puts him on par with Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé and Antoine Griezmann.
No player in Europe's top five leagues has scored more goals at the top level than his 32 goals this season.
Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus called Kane “the best finisher in the world” and manager Mikel Arteta said: “His numbers over the last 10 years are unbelievable.”
Despite Kane's scoring record, it is highly unlikely that Bayern will win their 12th consecutive Bundesliga title this season. They are 16 points behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen.
Arsenal lead the Premier League on goal difference with seven games remaining.
The Gunners are aiming to reach the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in 15 years.
Bayern last reached the semi-finals when they won the competition in 2020, but manager Thomas Tuchel hopes his side can put their disappointing domestic performance behind them.
The former Chelsea manager said, “It's natural to be criticized because we lost in a cup match.We can't win the league.''
“We accept the criticism, but we don't have the passion and hunger that we expect from ourselves in the Bundesliga.
“In the Champions League, we have played at a very high level so far. We have achieved the bare minimum. Not many big teams have reached the quarter-finals.
“We need two great performances and that's what we're focusing on.”
team news
Arsenal have no new injury concerns as Julian Timber is out for an extended period with a knee injury.
As for Bayern, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is doubtful, as are midfielders Leroy Sane, Kingsley Coman, Aleksandar Pavlovic and defender Nousser Mazraoui.
Sacha Boii, Bouna Sarr, Tarek Buchman and Noel Aseko-Nkili are likely to miss this game due to injury.
match the facts
face to face
- Arsenal have lost their last three games against Bayern Munich by the same 5-1 scoreline (all in the Champions League), the largest margin of defeat in European competition (four goals conceded). The most recent encounter, which took place in March 2017, was also Arsenal's heaviest defeat in all competitions at the Emirates Stadium.
- This will be the fifth time Arsenal and Bayern have met in the knockout stages of the Champions League, with the German side winning each of the previous four (2004-05, 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2016-17). 16).
arsenal
- It will be Arsenal's first appearance in the Champions League quarter-finals since the 2009-10 season, when they lost 6-3 on aggregate to Josep Guardiola's Barcelona.
- The Gunners have only won two of their seven quarter-final matches in the European Cup/Champions League.
- Bukayo Saka has played in seven Champions League games this season and has been directly involved in seven goals (three goals, four assists), the most of any Arsenal player. The last player to record more total goals and assists in a single season for the club was Alexis Sanchez in the 2015-16 season (8-3 goals, 5 assists).
Bayern Munich
- Bayern have lost their last two away games in the knockout stages of the Champions League (3-0 to Manchester City and 1-0 to Lazio). The last time they lost three consecutive away games was between April 2009 and April 2010 (losing to Barcelona, Fiorentina and Manchester United).
- Harry Kane has scored 14 goals in 19 games against Arsenal. The only games he has scored more goals in his professional career were against Leicester (20) and Everton (16).
