Bayern Munich Face Arsenal Test Without Suspended Michael Olise

Posted : 20 October 2026

Bayern Munich face a significant challenge in their UEFA Champions League campaign when they welcome Arsenal to the Allianz Arena on Wednesday, October 21, without influential winger Michael Olise. The French international is suspended following his dismissal in Bayern’s dramatic 3-3 draw against Norwegian side Viking in their previous European fixture.

Olise received two yellow cards within a minute after committing a foul before throwing the ball towards Viking captain Zlatko Tripic during a heated exchange. The incident resulted in the first sending-off of his career and ruled him out of the meeting with Arsenal, a side whose youth setup he previously attended.

The winger has been one of Bayern’s standout performers since the start of the season. After an impressive previous campaign that brought him into the Ballon d’Or conversation, he has continued to deliver goals and assists, becoming a key figure in the German champions’ attack.

His absence is particularly significant because Bayern have also been dealing with fitness concerns surrounding attacking midfielder Jamal Musiala. Serge Gnabry and Lennart Karl have yet to consistently reach their best form, leaving Harry Kane and Olise to shoulder much of the responsibility in the final third.

Kane has enjoyed another productive spell, contributing goals and assists across competitions. He was instrumental in Bayern’s comeback against Viking, scoring twice and providing another goal contribution after his side fell two goals behind.

Speaking after Bayern’s emphatic 6-1 Bundesliga victory over RB Leipzig, the England captain acknowledged that losing Olise would affect the team but challenged the rest of the squad to seize the opportunity.

Kane stressed that Bayern’s strength lies in having a deep squad capable of responding when key players are unavailable. He said those selected against Arsenal would need to be prepared to make an impact in a match that could test the club’s ambitions in Europe.

One of the biggest positives from Bayern’s win over Leipzig was the outstanding display by Luis Diaz. The Colombian forward scored a hat-trick and provided an assist, delivering a performance that could prove valuable as Bayern prepare for Olise’s absence.

Diaz had faced criticism following an inconsistent start to the season after his move from Liverpool in 2025. However, his contribution against Leipzig offered a timely reminder of his attacking quality and gave Bayern another potential source of goals ahead of their European showdown.

The German champions will need Diaz and their other attacking players to maintain that momentum against an Arsenal side that has made an impressive start to the campaign. Bayern’s dominant domestic performance has restored confidence, but the match against Mikel Arteta’s team represents a considerably different test.

Kane knows Arsenal well from his years in north London with Tottenham Hotspur and has faced the Gunners several times since moving to Bavaria in 2023. Bayern edged past Arsenal over two legs in the 2023–24 Champions League quarter-finals but suffered a 3-1 defeat in last season’s league phase.

The striker acknowledged Arsenal’s quality and said Bayern were looking forward to competing against one of Europe’s leading sides. He also highlighted the atmosphere at the Allianz Arena as a factor that could make the occasion special for the home team.

Arsenal arrive in Munich in strong form, having won 10 of their opening 11 matches across all competitions. Their recent performances have reinforced their status as serious contenders in Europe, making Wednesday’s encounter an important early assessment of both teams’ ambitions.

For Bayern, the immediate challenge will be finding a way to compensate for Olise’s absence while maintaining their attacking threat. With Kane leading the line and Diaz coming off an exceptional performance, the hosts will hope their squad depth can make the difference in a high-profile Champions League contest.

Bayern Munich Face Arsenal Test Without Suspended Michael Olise

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