FC Bayern will have to do without Michael Olise in their Champions League showdown against Arsenal. The Frenchman is suspended following his red card against Viking Stavanger. Lennart Karl would normally be the logical replacement for the star forward. But, of all times, just before the crucial matchup against the Londoners, there’s a question mark over whether the 18-year-old will make the starting lineup.

Karl has already demonstrated his enormous potential on multiple occasions this season. With his dribbling skills and courage in one-on-one situations, the youngster can create special moments even at the top international level.

However, things aren’t going smoothly for the Bayern pro at the moment. Since suffering a muscle tear shortly before the World Cup, Karl has been struggling to find his best form. Even in the most recent international match against Greece, he was rarely able to make a decisive impact.

“Probably not right now”: Doubts about Karl are growing

SPORT1 chief reporter Stefan Kumberger expressed clear doubts on the “Die Bayern-Woche” podcast as to whether Karl will be able to take on a key role again against Arsenal. “Unfortunately, one has to say that he probably can’t do it right now. There are reasons for that. We know about his injury. His mindset also played a role—Karl himself admitted that he needed a little time to get back mentally,” Kumberger explained.

The journalist described Karl’s recent performances as largely “all show and no substance.”

This poses a difficult question for coach Vincent Kompany: Should he continue to place his trust in the young player, or opt for a different solution in this crucial Champions League match?

“You could just let Karl play until things click again. The question is whether Bayern will have the opportunity and the time to do that, especially against the Londoners,” Kumberger emphasized.

Kompany has several alternatives to Olise

In addition to Karl, Serge Gnabry could also take over the right wing position. However, the national team player has also just returned from a lengthy injury layoff.

Another possibility would be a tactical adjustment. With Tom Bischof and Nene Brown, Kompany has two players at his disposal who can also be deployed in attacking midfield.

Brown has already played in the number 10 position in the Super Cup and at the start of the season. “Vincent Kompany will have to give that some thought. Brown and Bischof can play there. Maybe that’s the solution, but it would certainly be a slight vote of no confidence in Gnabry and Karl,” explained Kumberger.

It remains to be seen whether Kompany will actually leave Karl out. What is clear, however, is that Olise’s absence presents a challenge for Munich.

For Karl, the match against Arsenal could be a major test—provided he gets the chance to prove himself from the start.

This article was translated into English by AI. You can read the original version here https://fcbinside.de/2026/10/17/brotlose-kunst-experte-zweifelt-an-bayern-juwel-lennart-karl/.