Bayern Munich scout report: Harry Kane poses familiar problem but reasons for Arsenal to dream

Arsenal are back in the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2010 – and their reward is a showdown with heavyweights Bayern Munich.

It is exactly the tie Arsenal have missed during their exile from the Champions League and Mikel Arteta’s young side will relish what is to come.

Bayern boast a formidable pedigree in Europe, but this current side is struggling under former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel.

They are 10 points adrift of Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen and Tuchel has already confirmed he will be off in the summer.

And here, Standard Sport takes a look at some weaknesses Arsenal will look to exploit when they go head to head with Bayern…

An over-reliance on Kane 

Harry Kane has taken Germany by storm since moving to Bayern from Tottenham last summer.

The England captain has scored 36 goals and laid on nine assists in just 33 games for his new club.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola once famously dubbed Tottenham the “Harry Kane team” and, while it would be remiss to label Bayern that, their reliance on the striker is undeniable.

Kane has quickly hit the ground running in Germany (REUTERS)

It was telling that during Bayern’s three-game losing streak last month – that ended up in Tuchel announcing he was leaving this summer – Kane scored just once.

The striker’s goals dried up and so did Bayern’s, with the German champions finding the net just twice in three games.

Kane – as we well know – loves scoring against Arsenal. No player has scored more times in north London derbies and the Gunners will be wary of the threat he carries.

But, if they can keep Kane quiet, they will go a long way to beating Bayern.

No true No6 after missing out on Palhinha and Rice

One of Tuchel’s priorities last summer was to sign a new defensive midfielder.

Unsurprisingly, Bayern held an interest in Declan Rice when they were alerted to the fact he was leaving West Ham.

Arsenal, however, won the race for the England star and Tuchel never signed the No6 he craved, with a deadline-day move for Fulham’s Joao Palhinha collapsing, too.

Bayern instead pushed forward with a double pivot of Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka, who were reportedly two players Tuchel was willing to sell in the summer.

Rice chose Arsenal over Bayern last summer (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Neither player has given Bayern the physicality that Tuchel wants in the middle of the park, and that is an area Arsenal will look to expose.

Missing out on Rice could prove to be more painful than Bayern realised it would.

A lack of pace in the heart of defence 

It is not just Kane that will be a familiar face for Arsenal when they take on Bayern.

The German champions also have Eric Dier in their ranks, who left Tottenham to join them in January.

Dier has managed to get his career back on track in Munich, so much so he was touted for an England call-up this month.

The 30-year-old has been a regular for Bayern in the heart of their defence, but Arsenal will believe they can him expose his lack of pace – especially if the likes of Gabriel Martinelli cut inside off their wing.