Harry Kane has always relished his duels with Arsenal but never has he faced a Gunners defence as mean as this.
And for that reason alone, captain Martin Odegaard says, Arsenal see no reason to fear the ex-Tottenham sharpshooter tomorrow night. Kane, who scored 14 times in 19 north London derbies, arrives at the Emirates facing the prospect of a trophyless first season at Bayern Munich.
As the Bavarians were licking their wounds after another Bundesliga shock on Saturday, a 3-2 loss to Heidenheim, Arsenal were keeping Brighton at arm’s length with impressive maturity.
There was plenty of easy on the eye attacking play on the south coast, with Kai Havertz continuing his hot run at the point of Mikel Arteta ’s attack. But of equal note was their 19th clean sheet of the season in all competitions.
This one was a touch less comfortable than most as David Raya produced a couple of stunning saves to thwart Albion in the first half. But the numbers are impossible to argue against.
Arsenal have conceded only four times in their past 11 league games and the centre half partnership of William Saliba and Gabriel Maghaeles are brimming with confidence.
“I think we should respect him,” Odegaard said. “But I don’t think we should fear anyone and we should focus on ourselves and the quality we have in our team. That is all.
“He’s a good player, of course, and I have played against him a few times. We know the quality he has in the box and he is also good in the link up. We are facing a good team.”
Bayern have relinquished their 11-year grip on the Bundesliga title to leave the Champions League as their only remaining chance of silverware.
“They have had some strange results in the league but if you look at the team, you can see the quality they have,” Odegaard said. “We know that, we know they are a really strong side. Really good individual players as well. It will be a tough battle. But we are ready.”
At the middle of Arteta’s front three, Havertz certainly appears sharp – though the contrast of styles with Kane is significant.
The Germany international is unlikely to ever be among the most prolific finishers but he scored for the fifth time in seven to make it 2-0 at Brighton and once more offered some sublime link-up play.
After a settling in period that led to premature conclusions that he was not up to scratch, Arsenal are starting to see Havertz in full flight.
“We saw straight away the quality he had,” Odegaard said. “Just by getting it out, you can really see that and how much he is giving to the team. Not just with goals and assists but the play in general. He has given us so much.”
Odegaard says the same applies to their other major summer signings in Raya and Declan Rice, the £100m acquisition who Arsenal fans now sing they got for half price.
“All the players who came in this season have been brilliant and you see them getting better and better,” Odegaard added. “They give us so much.”
