- Harry Kane offers Arsenal a huge challenge in the Champions League
- Playing against Arsenal usually brings out the best in the former Tottenham striker
- Arsenal need to feel unbeatable… they will cause more misery for Harry Kane and Bayern Munich – Listen to the It all starts podcast
Arsenal face a huge challenge in dealing with the hugely effective Harry Kane, but they will have a specific plan to stop him.
We have seen in the Premier League how Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba are not averse to following their opposing striker when he drops into a deep position. It happened occasionally during their weekend win over Brighton.
But Bayern Munich have so many attacking options, especially through Leroy Sane and Serge Gnabry, that Arsenal may think twice about using that tactic in these two games.
If Gabriel or Saliba joins Kane when he drops to pick up possession, it would risk leaving a big hole in the defense that could be exploited by an early ball from the back. Normally, Arsenal are confident enough that the three men left at the back can handle whatever is thrown at them.
But players like Sane or Gnabry – who will have the added motivation of facing his former club – possess exciting pace and should want to flood into the space.
Arsenal face the challenge of how to deal with Harry Kane in the Champions League quarter-final
William Saliba and Gabriel can pass on Kane to avoid being exposed to Bayern’s pace
Their communication with Declan Rice, pictured, and Jorginho must always be perfect
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Gabriel and Saliba may decide to transfer Kane to their midfielders if he ends up in that area. This means that communication with Declan Rice and Jorginho will have to be perfect.
There is something about Arsenal that gets the best out of Kane, who scored fourteen goals in nineteen games against them for Tottenham. He has the chance to add to that tally as Bayern and Arsenal must ensure they don’t allow him a goal, just as they haven’t allowed Erling Haaland this season.
Arsenal showed in the last two games against Brighton and Manchester City that they will use every player to get behind the ball. They will create a complete defensive shield around their own field, including all 10 outfielders, if they feel it is necessary against strong opponents. I’m sure Arsenal won’t underestimate Bayern, who will have the strange task of competing without their supporters in the stadium.
Even though they appear to be missing out on the Bundesliga title, they are still a top quality team, with a manager in Thomas Tuchel who knows what it takes to win the Champions League.