Michael Olise will miss FC Bayern’s match against Arsenal due to suspension. Vincent Kompany must choose between Serge Gnabry, Lennart Karl, and Ismael Saibari.
FC Bayern must reshuffle its offense for the Champions League showdown against Arsenal. Michael Olise is suspended following his yellow-red card against Viking Stavanger, and Jamal Musiala is also still unavailable. As a result, Vincent Kompany will be without his most creative attacking duo against, of all opponents, the strongest team they’ve faced so far in the group stage.
Harry Kane at center forward and Luis Díaz on the left wing are likely to start. It remains to be seen who will take the two spots on the right and in the number 10 position. Three candidates are in the running: Serge Gnabry, Lennart Karl, and Ismael Saibari.
Saibari is currently in the best form. The summer signing started as the playmaker in the 6-1 win over RB Leipzig and wasn’t substituted until just under an hour into the game. While his performance wasn’t outstanding, the 25-year-old brings physicality, stamina, and experience against high-pressing defenses. He has also already proven that he can play both centrally and on the left wing.
Gnabry, on the other hand, is the most experienced option. The 31-year-old played about 30 minutes against Leipzig and can be deployed in any position behind Kane. A start against his former club, Arsenal, would be particularly appealing. However, after a long injury layoff, he still lacks match sharpness. Whether Kompany trusts him to start at this level will likely depend heavily on his recent training sessions.
Gnabry brings experience; Karl remains the bold choice
Karl would be the most attacking—and at the same time, the riskiest—option. The 18-year-old started in Stavanger but was largely ineffective there and was substituted at halftime. Even as a substitute against Leipzig, he made little of an impact. His speed and carefree style could still pose problems for Arsenal, especially if the game opens up.
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Lothar Matthäus recently emphasized that Olise cannot be replaced on a one-to-one basis. That’s precisely why Kompany will likely have to spread the workload across several players.
The most pragmatic solution would be to start Saibari at the “10” position again and place Gnabry on the right wing. Karl could then come on as a substitute against defenders who are starting to tire. If Gnabry isn’t yet physically ready for a starting role, Karl would be the alternative on the right.