Arsenal face Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena tonight, and there will be a couple of familiar faces in the opposition.

Serge Gnabry came through the academy at Hale End and played alongside Mikel Arteta in the first team, but the Gunners let him go early in his career. And given what he’s gone on to achieve in Germany, it’s surely a decision the club regret.

He isn’t the only former Arsenal academy player in the Bayern squad, though. The club also released a young striker when he was just eight years old, and he’s since gone on to score more goals against the Gunners than any other player in history. And their own centre forward Kai Havertz admits he’s a big fan.

Kai Havertz looks up to Harry Kane

Answering fans’ questions on Men in Blazers, Havertz was full of praise for Harry Kane. “I love Harry Kane,” he said. “For me, he’s one of the best strikers I’ve ever seen in my life.

“And yeah, he’s probably also not a proper number nine, but still, the numbers he produces and also assists he produces and still how he links up and helps the team when they are deep or something is amazing. So, he’s definitely someone that I look up to.”

It’s interesting that Havertz highlights Kane’s ability to drop deep and link play. Gary Lineker said this week that Havertz will never score 25 goals a season because he’s “more of a 10”, but Kane is proof that a forward can do both.

Kane has continued his remarkable form this season, with nine goals and six assists in 10 games in all competitions. He’s the favourite to win the Ballon d’Or, and even Declan Rice is backing him to win it. His 15 goals against Arsenal are the most anyone has ever scored against the club.

Arsenal also face a Bayern side that are unbeaten in 39 Champions League group and league phase games at the Allianz Arena, a run stretching back more than a decade.

There is one reason for optimism, though. Kane has never scored in open play against Ezri Konsa, who’s expected to line up alongside Gabriel tonight.