London: Struggling Bayern Munich took a step in the right direction in Tuesday’s 2-2 draw at Arsenal in the opening leg of their Champions League quarter-final, according to striker Harry Kane.
The England captain, who joined the Bundesliga giants from Tottenham Hotspur last August in search of the trophies he craves, slotted home a penalty to put his side 2-1 ahead.
Incredibly it was his 39th goal for Bayern in all competitions this season but it was not enough to earn a victory as Arsenal substitute Leandro Trossard levelled for the hosts to leave the tie balanced on a knife edge.
Fan support in second leg
Bayern, who have not gone beyond the quarter-finals since winning a sixth title in 2020, will be slight favourites for next Wednesday’s second leg when they will be roared on by their fans who were absent in north London as punishment for fireworks being let off in the previous round against Lazio.
The pressure will be on Thomas Tuchel’s team, however, as Europe is their only chance of redemption in a season that will soon see them dethroned as German champions by Bayer Leverkusen.
“You saw a real determined team today,” said Kane, who silenced the jeers by adding to the record 14 goals he scored for Spurs against Arsenal in north London derbies.
“We had to show togetherness and show fight. Today was a small step in the right direction.”
Strange situation
Bayern are 16 points behind Leverkusen, who could wrap up the title at the weekend, but the six-times European champions raised their game at the Emirates, disrupting Premier League leaders Arsenal who struggled to find their usual fluency.
Tuchel is leaving at the end of the season, but his side are clearly still playing for him.
“It’s a little bit strange if I am totally honest,” Kane said of the managerial situation. “All I can say is he has given everything in every training session.”
For Arsenal, eyeing a first English title for 20 years after 10 wins from their last 11 Premier League games, it was a disappointing display although they will head to Bavaria next week full of belief that they can reach the semi-finals.
Having taken the lead through Bukayo Saka, they were guilty of defensive errors as their former player Serge Gnabry levelled and Kane fired home a penalty after Leroy Sane’s surging run was ended by a clumsy tackle from William Saliba.
Showing a lot of composure
“In the Champions League you cannot give anything to the opponent, we have given two goals today,” manager Mikel Arteta told reporters. “When you have these situations they are going to punish you. That’s the biggest lesson.
“I think the team showed a lot of composure especially after 2-1. You can throw your toys away and generate a lot of spaces for the opponent and lose the tie in 20 minutes.
“We haven’t done that.”
While it was not the result Arsenal were hoping for, their away form in the Premier League has been superb with no goals conceded and 20 goals scored in their last five games.
“I have a lot of belief we can go there and beat them. We have to prepare really well,” Arteta said.
