Bayern Confirm Kimmich’s Absence From Arsenal Clash on Compassionate Leave

Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich will miss Wednesday night's Champions League game against Arsenal after being given compassionate leave following a death in his close family.

Bayern announced the news in a short statement on Wednesday. Kimmich had already missed Tuesday's last training session for personal reasons. The club asked for the family to be left in peace. 

"Due to a passing in his immediate family, Joshua Kimmich is not in the squad today for the match against Arsenal.

"On behalf of the family, we ask that his privacy and grief be respected, and that further inquiries and reporting be refrained from.

"We send our deepest condolences to Joshua Kimmich and his loved ones," the club said in a post on X.

Due to a passing in his immediate family, Joshua Kimmich is not in the squad today for the match against Arsenal. On behalf of the family, we ask that his privacy and grief be respected, and that further inquiries and reporting be refrained from. We send our deepest condolences to Joshua Kimmich and his loved ones.

— FC Bayern (@FCBayernEN) October 21, 2026

It is a big blow for the hosts, who are chasing a first European crown in seven years, and it adds to a growing list of problems. Winger Michael Olise is suspended after his red card last week. 

Jamal Musiala is out with a thigh injury, and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is a doubt with a foot problem. Head coach Vincent Kompany has been ill and missed his pre-match press conference, though he is still expected to be on the touchline in Munich.

Even so, Bayern come into the game in good domestic form. They are unbeaten in six Bundesliga games and moved into the DFB-Pokal second round with a 4-1 win at second-tier Osnabruck.

Their league run started with a 5-1 win over Stuttgart, then a goalless draw with Schalke and a narrow win over newly promoted Elversberg. Olise scored a hat-trick in a 7-0 thrashing of Union Berlin. Bayern twice came from behind to draw with Augsburg, then hit back on Saturday with a 6-1 win over RB Leipzig, with Luis Diaz scoring three.

In Europe, they began with a 5-0 win over Bodo/Glimt. Last week they drew 3-3 away at Viking, where they came back from two goals down to lead 3-2 before conceding a late equaliser.

Bayern can still take some heart from their home record without Kimmich. They have lost just one of their last 31 home games in the Champions League, with 24 wins and six draws. 

They are also unbeaten in eight European games in Munich since a 2-1 quarter-final loss to Inter Milan in 2024-25, winning seven of them. That record now faces a stern test against Arsenal.