Bayern Munich confirmed on Wednesday that Joshua Kimmich will play no part in their Champions League meeting with Arsenal at the Allianz Arena, with the 31-year-old granted compassionate leave after a death in his immediate family.

The German champions announced the absence in a short statement that both named the bereavement as the reason and asked the media to step back.

“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.”

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Kimmich had already missed Bayern’s final training session on Tuesday for personal reasons, and his availability had been in doubt ever since.

Captain pulled on a thinned-out matchday

Kimmich had worn the armband in Bayern’s 6-1 Bundesliga win over RB Leipzig the previous weekend, and he had made 10 appearances across all competitions this season before stepping away from the squad.

Vincent Kompany is already down Michael Olise, suspended after his dismissal against Viking FK, and Jamal Musiala, who is sidelined with a thigh injury. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is a doubt with a foot problem, and Kompany himself is managing a viral infection, with the Belgian expected on the touchline.

Midfield reshuffle before Arsenal

The anchoring role Kimmich fills is the one Kompany builds his side around, and his staff now have hours to settle on a replacement in front of a home crowd that has seen Bayern win seven of their eight European home matches since Inter Milan’s 2-1 win in the 2024-25 Champions League quarter-finals.

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Kick-off at the Allianz Arena is at 9pm local time.

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