THE SHARPE END: How Arsenal can put an end to their Bayern Munich jinx in the Champions League and silence Harry Kane, their tormentor-in-chief

Of all the opponents Arsenal would face in their bid to reach the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2009, it had to be Bayern Munich.

The last three games saw them tied 5-1.

Bayern now have Harry Kane, whose record against the Gunners is 14 goals in 17 Premier League games.

And he also has the Bundesliga record in his sights…

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Despite all the talk about Kane, defenses will have the key.

Bayern concede twice as many goals as they did 10 seasons ago, and look certain to miss out on the Bundesliga title for the first time in 12 seasons.

But Arsenal have never been better equipped to silence their old tormentor-in-chief.

Mikel Arteta has turned his defense into one of the worst in the world.

The Gunners face the fewest shots on goal and concede the fewest expected goals (xG) of any team in Europe’s big five leagues.

Arsenal can also take advantage of the strained relationship between Bayern manager Thomas Tuchel and star midfielder Joshua Kimmich.

Tuchel does not value Kimmich as a central midfielder and moved him to right back.

Bayern’s poor form has led to calls to reinstate him in midfield, but Tuchel has stubbornly kept Kimmich in defense despite the German international dominating many of the main midfield areas in the Champions League, where he played every game. except the most recent one in his favorite position.

Arsenal’s midfield could go haywire.

Gunners captain Martin Odegaard has scored three goals in his last six PL games, but his work off the ball is equally important.

No PL midfielder has exerted more pressure in the final third than Odegaard this season (396), and his pressures in the final third have also resulted in his team winning more balls back (84).

It will be key if Arsenal want to end Bayern’s voodoo.