Bukayo Saka can give the Gunners the edge over Bayern Munich (Picture: Getty Images)
Fireworks are guaranteed when Arsenal entertain Bayern Munich in a thrilling Champions League quarter-final, first leg at the Emirates Stadium.
But they will be provided by rocket shots and sparkling performances on the pitch rather than pyrotechnics released by supporters in the stands.
Bayern fans have been banned from the match after setting off fireworks which ended up on the playing surface at Copenhagen and Lazio, and their absence could be a key factor in the opening 90 minutes of a mouth-watering engagement in north London.
The Gunners head into the fixture in banging form and are top of the Premier League on goal difference while the visitors will lose their Bundesliga crown if Bayer Leverkusen win just one of their last six matches.
Mikel Arteta’s side have won 11 of their last 13 matches in all competitions, with the only defeat being a 1-0 last-16 defeat at Porto which was overturned when they won the tie on penalties.
They also gained a terrific point from a 0-0 draw at Manchester City. A watertight defence has kept a clean sheet in seven out of their last ten games and they have not shipped more than one goal since the 2-0 FA Cup exit at home to Liverpool at the beginning of January.
Harry Kane is always a thorn in Arsenal’s side (Picture: Corbis via Getty Images)
In contrast, Bayern have lost five of their last ten games, have kept opponents without a goal just once in their last 12 and have been significantly hindered by injuries to key players.
The good news for head coach Thomas Tuchel, who is leaving at the end of the season, is that Harry Kane returned from an ankle injury to score in the 3-2 defeat at Heidenheim at the weekend.
That was the England captain’s 42nd goal for club and country this term and he loves finding the net against Arsenal, having got on the scoresheet 14 times in 19 appearances against the Gunners while with Tottenham.
Kane is 21/10 with bet365 to score at any time but while Bayern have beaten Arsenal 5-1 in their last three meetings the Gunners should take a healthy lead to Germany for the second leg next week and are 3/4 with BetUK to win and 12/1 across the board to triumph 3-1.
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Bukayo Saka should be fit to start after suffering a knock in Saturday’s 3-0 victory at Brighton and is 13/2 to break the deadlock with Betfair and Paddy Power and 9/4 with the same firms to score at any time.
• Manchester City haven’t been playing to quite the same standards as this time last year but they are still in with a great shout of successfully defending their Premier League title and can grab a draw from their Champions League semi-final first leg trip to Real Madrid at 5/2 with Betway.
Kevin De Bruyne scored two belters at Crystal Palace on Saturday and is 16/1 with Sky Bet to open the scoring and 6/1 with the same firm to score at any time.
• Rising British star Jack Draper is 18/5 with Coral and Ladbrokes to beat Hubert Hurkacz 2-1 on the clay at the Monte Carlo Masters.
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