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Harry Kane can get at 'awful' Per Mertesacker, Charlie Nicholas says

Harry Kane scores against Bournemouth
Image: Harry Kane goes into Sunday's derby with four goals in two Premier League games

Harry Kane will fancy his chances on Sunday if Per Mertesacker repeats his "awful" display in Munich, according to Charlie Nicholas.

Mertesacker was deprived of regular partner Laurent Koscielny as Bayern won 5-1 on Wednesday night to leave Arsenal facing the real possibility of early Champions League elimination.

Koscielny is a doubt for the Super Sunday derby against Tottenham, while Arsene Wenger says right-back Hector Bellerin is likely to miss out with a groin injury.

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And former Arsenal forward Nicholas believes that spells trouble against in-form Spurs, who won last season's home derby thanks to a Kane double and have their striker back among the goals with four in his last two Premier League games.

"Mertesacker was awful [at Bayern]," he told Sky Sports News HQ. "I worry about him for the weekend.

Arsenal-Tottenham classics
Arsenal-Tottenham classics

A look back at some timeless north London derbies

"Normally Mertesacker and Koscielny would be your two experienced guys, and Gabriel also didn't defend well in Munich.

"I take you back to the Capital One Cup when Mertesacker played [in a 3-0 defeat] at Sheffield Wednesday: people can get at him.

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"Harry Kane, if he's fit and ready, will fancy his chances this weekend of getting at Mertesacker.

"If Bellerin is not fit there's another weakness there, because Mathieu Debuchy's been pretty poor to say the least. So there are problems there."

Per Mertesacker dejected, Bayern Munich v Arsenal, Champions League
Image: Per Mertesacker was "awful" at Bayern Munich, according to Charlie Nicholas

Paul Dickov, another ex-Arsenal striker, said: "Defensively they've got to be better.

"It looked to me like they thought it was okay to get everyone behind the ball against Bayern but then not do anything.

"Three of the goals came from crosses, people standing in the box but nobody wanting to take any responsibility for going and closing the ball down or picking men up.

"If they do that on Sunday, with the form Harry Kane's coming into at the minute, then they'll struggle."

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