Bayern Munich will face a major test of their UEFA Champions League ambitions when they host English Premier League champions Arsenal on Wednesday, with influential winger Michael Olise unavailable due to suspension.
Olise, who was born in London and previously featured in Arsenal’s youth system, was sent off during Bayern’s 3-3 draw against Viking last week. The winger received two yellow cards within a minute after committing a foul before reacting to verbal provocation from Viking captain Zlatko Tripic by throwing the ball at his head. The dismissal was the first red card of Olise’s career.
After an impressive campaign last season that brought him into Ballon d’Or discussions, the former Crystal Palace player has maintained his strong form this season. He has recorded nine goals and five assists in 10 appearances across all competitions for Bayern.
His absence is a significant setback for the German champions, particularly as Jamal Musiala continues to struggle with injury and illness, while Serge Gnabry and Lennart Karl have yet to reach their best form.
England captain Harry Kane has also played a key role in Bayern’s attack, registering nine goals and six assists in 10 matches. During last week’s game against Viking, Kane helped rescue his side after they fell 2-0 behind, scoring twice and providing another assist.
Speaking after Bayern’s emphatic 6-1 Bundesliga victory over RB Leipzig on Saturday, Kane acknowledged that the team would miss Olise but urged other players to take advantage of the opportunity to step up.
The striker said the squad needed to demonstrate its depth and ensure that whoever was selected for Wednesday’s encounter was ready to deliver.
One of the major positives from the victory over Leipzig was the performance of Luis Diaz, who scored three goals and provided an assist. The 29-year-old had endured a difficult start to the season but produced one of his strongest performances since joining Bayern from Liverpool in 2025.
Kane, a former Tottenham Hotspur captain who moved to Bayern in 2023, is familiar with Arsenal, having faced the London club several times since leaving England.
Bayern eliminated Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the 2023/24 Champions League, progressing by a single goal over the two legs. However, the German side suffered a 3-1 defeat against the Gunners during the league phase of last season’s competition.
Kane said he had spoken briefly with some Arsenal players during a previous international break but explained that the busy fixture schedule had left little time for further exchanges ahead of Wednesday’s match.
Bayern will enter the encounter encouraged by their convincing win over Leipzig, which further demonstrated their strength in domestic competition.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have started the campaign strongly, winning 10 of their first 11 matches across all competitions. The Gunners will also be seeking to move forward after their painful penalty shootout defeat to Paris Saint-Germain last season.
Kane described the encounter as an opportunity for Bayern to measure themselves against one of Europe’s leading teams. He also expressed confidence that playing at home, supported by their fans, would make the occasion special.
Credit: Vanguard
