Bayern Munich Faces Arsenal Without Joshua Kimmich
The midfielder has been granted compassionate leave following a close family bereavement ahead of the Champions League match.
Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich will miss Wednesday night's crucial Champions League fixture against Premier League champions Arsenal due to a bereavement in his close family. The German international was granted compassionate leave after missing the final training session on Tuesday for personal reasons, as confirmed by the club in an official statement.
The absence of the influential midfielder deals a significant blow to the Bavarian giants as they pursue their first European title in seven years. Bayern's squad depth is already heavily tested ahead of the match at the Allianz Arena, compounding a mounting selection crisis for head coach Vincent Kompany.
Losing Kimmich adds to a growing list of roster concerns for the German title holders. Winger Michael Olise is suspended following his red card last week, attacker Jamal Musiala remains sidelined with a thigh injury, and veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is a doubt due to a foot problem.
In addition to player absences, coach Vincent Kompany has been dealing with illness and missed his pre-scheduled pre-match press conference, though he is still expected to manage the team from the touchline. Bayern released a brief statement asking for privacy on behalf of the player and his family during this difficult time.
Despite their current injury and suspension woes, the German champions maintain strong domestic form, remaining unbeaten through six Bundesliga outings. Their domestic campaign includes dominant victories as well as progression to the second round of the DFB-Pokal following a 4-1 win against second-tier club Osnabrueck.
In European competition, Bayern opened their campaign with a resounding 5-0 victory over Bodo/Glimt, followed by a 3-3 draw away against Viking after conceding a late equalizer. Even without Kimmich anchoring the midfield, the team enters the match backed by a formidable home record, having lost just one of their last 31 Champions League fixtures at the Allianz Arena.