This decision certainly still annoys many Arsenal FC officials and fans to this day!
The traditional English club welcomes on Wednesdays (9pm). FC Bayern to the top match of the Champions League at London’s Emirates Stadium.
What almost no one knows: Harry Kane (32), current super striker for record champions Germany and captain of the England national team, was kicked out of Arsenal’s youth team more than 20 years ago!
The Munich number 9 said on Saturday after his club’s 6-2 home Bundesliga win against Freiburg: “I was at Arsenal when I was 7 or 8 years old and then got sent off. That’s part of the story, part of football. That was a long time ago.”
The reasons for the landing are quite surprising from today’s perspective. Liam Brady, who managed the Gunners’ academy at the time, once revealed: “He was a bit chubby, not very athletic.”
It’s hard to believe – after all, after leaving Arsenal, Kane gradually rose to become one of the best goalscorers in the world. Through Ridgeway Rovers and Watford he made his way into the youth ranks of Tottenham Hotspur, where he was able to establish himself in the Premier League side after several loan spells and achieve legendary status in the following years.
After scoring 280 goals and 63 assists in 435 appearances with Spurs, Kane finally ventured abroad for the first time in the summer of 2023, moving to Bayern for around 100 million euros and becoming the most expensive purchase in the club’s history.
Initial discussions regarding the size of the transfer fee quickly died down. His signing is now considered an absolute success – after 114 games for Bayern, Kane has already scored 109 goals and 29 assists and has set many records at this incredible rate.
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A return to Arsenal on Wednesday will be very special for the London native. But that had nothing to do with his landing. Kane on the rivalry between his two former clubs: “The fact that I played for Tottenham for so long gives the game a bit of extra charm for me. During my time at Tottenham, the game against Arsenal was of course one of the biggest. Of course you want to show yourself in a special way – also for the fans. That’s why I feel my motivation in the derby is very high. It will be no different on Wednesday.”
But he quickly added: “I try not to focus too much on the emotional side of the game, but rather on what I and the team have to do on the pitch. In the end, it’s just another game, an important game.”
And further: “We have great momentum, especially in the Champions League after the match against Paris Saint-Germain (2-1 on November 4; editor). We want to go to London and try to win there too.”
However, the Bayern superstar knows that it will be very difficult. Ahead of his guest appearance with coach Mikel Arteta’s side, 43, who are currently six points clear at the top of the Premier League and crushed Tottenham 4-1 on Sunday, Kane warned: “I have been to the Emirates many times and it is a difficult place. Arsenal have a top team, especially this season. We also have to have the mindset to play our game there.”
