Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says his side will need to be at the top of their game as a collective in order to prevent Harry Kane in the Champions League this week. Kane has been in sensational form for Bayern Munich since his summer move from Arsenal’s north London rivals Tottenham last summer.
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The England captain has scored a staggering 38 goals in only 36 appearances for the German side and has six in eight Champions League games. He will be the main threat to Arsenal’s progression to the Champions League semi-finals.
Arteta’s side face Bayern at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday before travelling to the German capital on next Wednesday. The Gunners boss insists the Bavarians have more quality than just Kane and has urged his players to perform as a collective if they are to win.
Responding to a question on how to stop Kane, Arteta said: "It’s not only him. We know the individuals that they have and we know the individual qualities of all those players, and him in particular, the ability that he has.
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“The best thing to do is to do what we usually do collectively and try to prevent certain things."
Asked if Kane’s superb record against Arsenal during his career could have an effect on the game, the Arsenal boss quipped: “Hopefully not!”
He continued: “The consistency, when you look at his numbers over the last 10 years, is unbelievable. He can score in many different ways. He’s got the service with the players around him to provide those opportunities. That is what we have to try to avoid.”
Arteta also revealed that he is a ‘fan’ of his Bayern counterpart Thomas Tuchel. Despite a difficult domestic campaign in which the perennial German champions are set to lose out on another Bundesliga title to Bayer Leverkusen, Tuchel’s team have beaten Lazio, Manchester United and Galatasaray during their run to the quarter-finals.
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Tuchel will depart at the end of the season but that has not stopped Arteta admiring the methods of the former Chelsea head coach.
“Top team. I’m a big fan, a big admirer of Thomas, his teams, the way they set up, the way they play. Trust me, I’ve learned a lot about him. Looking at Bayern and analysing them deeply, you see why they are a top team.
“We have prepared very well and we have to take our game where we want it. If we do that, we will have a chance to win.”
