Serge Gnabry is still waiting for more playing time at FC Bayern. With Michael Olise suspended, his situation could suddenly change.
Serge Gnabry had probably imagined his return to FC Bayern differently. After his long injury layoff, the 31-year-old has made only two brief appearances for the Munich club so far, totaling 36 minutes in competitive matches. In the 3-3 draw against Viking Stavanger, he didn’t even make the bench.
According to BILD, Gnabry was visibly disappointed after the match and was the first Bayern player to head toward the team bus. Whether his behavior was actually related to Vincent Kompany’s decisions has not been confirmed. From a sporting perspective, however, his current situation is anything but satisfactory.
A new opportunity could arise for Gnabry very soon, though. Michael Olise is out—of all times—just before the Champions League match against Arsenal. The Frenchman received a yellow-red card in Stavanger and is therefore suspended for next Wednesday’s home game.
Olise’s suspension opens a new door for Gnabry
This means Kompany will have to reshuffle his offense against Arsenal anyway. And against his former club, Gnabry is among the obvious candidates who could once again come into sharper focus as a result.
The national team player is versatile on offense, capable of playing on both wings as well as centrally behind Harry Kane. It is precisely this flexibility that could prove valuable to Kompany. Lennart Karl and Ismael Saibari are also options for changes in the attack, but Gnabry brings significantly more experience—not least in big Champions League matches.
In addition, the 31-year-old has already regained match fitness in recent weeks. With the German national team, Gnabry played in all three of the first Nations League matches and even led the DFB squad onto the field as captain for the first time in the 2-0 win over Serbia. There are currently no publicly known reports of a new medical setback.
The fact that Kompany still did not field Gnabry in Stavanger does not necessarily have to be related to physical problems. Following his long-term adductor injury, managing his workload is likely still a factor. However, there is no specific medical reason for his omission against Viking as of yet.
Ahead of the Arsenal match, the situation could now be different. Olise is normally one of Bayern’s regular attacking players and has already tallied eight goals and three assists this season. His absence leaves a corresponding gap.
For Gnabry, this may be exactly the opportunity he’s been waiting for after his long layoff. Before the match against Arsenal, Bayern first has a Bundesliga home game against RB Leipzig. That game could already indicate whether Kompany is now bringing the veteran—who has seen little playing time recently—back into the lineup more regularly.