Kane urges calm after Arsenal hand Bayern first defeat of season
Published: 27 November 2025, 5:55:26
Harry Kane endured a rare quiet night as Bayern Munich fell 3-1 to Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday, suffering their first defeat of the season.
Despite the setback, the Bayern striker insisted there was no reason to panic and suggested the two sides could meet again in the later stages of the competition.
“It was a tough game, which we expected. The first half was a good battle and fairly even,” said Kane, who has scored 29 goals for club and country this season but made little impact at Emirates.
“In the second half, we didn’t have the same energy or intensity and lost too many duels. It’s our first loss of the season. We don’t want to panic too much, but we will learn from it. I’m sure we’ll see them again in the later stages of the Champions League.”
Kane, prolific in North London derbies during his Tottenham days, has often tormented Arsenal, including a goal for Bayern in their Champions League quarter-final meeting two seasons ago.
But Arsenal, strengthened by heavy summer investment, now boast a squad with depth that rivals even Bayern’s.
Missing key players such as Gabriel and £63.5 million signing Viktor Gyokeres, they still managed to dominate the second half thanks to the impact of substitutes Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli, whose goals secured Arsenal’s fifth straight group-stage win.
Manager Mikel Arteta said both teams were at different stages compared to their meeting two years ago.
“We are different, they are different. It was a different stage of the competition and it was thin margins how we went out. We learn, we are better,” he said.
Arsenal now sit six points clear at the top of the Premier League and three points ahead in their Champions League group, edging closer to the last 16. But man-of-the-match Declan Rice warned against complacency.
“That’s just a lot of talk. The Champions League; you’re either in or you’re out. It’s only the league phase; anything can happen,” he said. “We have to take it one game at a time and stay focused. On our day, I think we can beat anyone.”
