Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard asserts that the team will not be intimidated by Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane when they clash with the German champions in the Champions League quarter-final.
Since his transfer from Tottenham Hotspur to Bayern last summer, Kane has notched up an impressive 38 goals. However, Odegaard emphasizes that Arsenal will not be daunted, despite Kane’s previous record of scoring 14 goals in 19 matches against the Gunners during his time with Spurs.
The first leg of the quarter-final will take place at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday at 20:00 BST.
“[He’s] a good player, we know his quality in the box,” said Odegaard.
“I think we should respect him but I don’t think we should fear anyone and we should focus on ourselves.”
Kane currently shares the top spot on the Champions League scorers chart for this season with six goals in eight matches, a feat matched by Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, and Antoine Griezmann.
Across Europe’s top five leagues, no player has scored more top-flight goals than Kane’s 32 this campaign.
Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus hailed Kane as “the best finisher in the world,” while manager Mikel Arteta emphasized, “his numbers over the past 10 years are unbelievable.”
Despite Kane’s remarkable goalscoring achievements, Bayern are facing considerable odds in securing a 12th consecutive Bundesliga title this season, trailing leaders Bayer Leverkusen by 16 points.
Meanwhile, Arsenal sits atop the Premier League table on goal difference with seven games remaining. The Gunners aim to advance to the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time in 15 years.
While Bayern reached the semi-finals when they clinched the Champions League title in 2020, manager Thomas Tuchel urges his team to put their disappointing domestic form behind them. However, he acknowledges that Arsenal will present a “massive test.”
“Arsenal are currently the best team in the Premier League and that is deserved – all the data shows that,” Tuchel told a media conference on Monday.
“We know about our own strengths and how we want to cause them pain. We know the Champions League is a competition where we have more experience over the last few years. We want to use it to our advantage.”
The former Chelsea boss also believes Kane’s experience against Arsenal will be key.
“I think it’s enjoyable for Harry to be here at Arsenal in a quarter-final of the Champions League,” he said.
“It will make him very happy to score and I don’t see anything holding him back. Harry always helps you to win. He will help us perform.”