Later tonight, Arsenal will host Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash at the Emirates Stadium. Nevertheless, it will only be the fans of the Premier League outfit supporting on from within the ground, as the away block will remain empty due to Bayern’s one-game ban set by UEFA.
Regardless, while this is a factor that will undoubtedly benefit the Gunners, there is no ruling out Der Rekordmeister. With the natural goalscoring instincts of marksman Harry Kane, Bayern are a constant threat.
In the pre-match press conference, Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus remarked on the threat posed by the former Tottenham Hotspur forward: “Everyone knows what qualities he has. For me, he is the best finisher in the world. With his head, with his left foot, and with his right foot. The guy is one of the best since I came to Europe.”
So far this season, Kane has continued his goalscoring form in Bavaria, breaking multiple records in the process. However, Jesus commented that the 30-year-old is not the only threat Arsenal are aware of.
“You have players like my old friend Sane, Musiala, Coman, Müller, Gnabry. There’s a lot of quality there. It’s still Bayern. They can hurt us. It will be two big battles. I think everyone here is ready. We will try to enjoy it.”
For Bayern, the Champions League resembles their last chance of lifting silverware this season. Regardless of their form domestically, there is an expectation for Bayern to perform over these two legs, as they hope to return to Wembley eleven years after their famous victory against Borussia Dortmund.
GGFN | Will Shopland
