Joshua Kimmich statement released after suffering tragic loss just hours before Arsenal clash

Bayern Munich have released a statement confirming the devastating news hours before the Champions League fixture.

Bayern Munich have released a statement confirming that Joshua Kimmich will not play against Arsenal due to a death in the immediate family.

German champions Bayern Munich host Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday night, but they will be without a key player in Kimmich due to a personal tragedy.

Various reports have confirmed that the midfielder's father, Berthold, has passed away at the age of 57, with Bayern releasing a statement confirming the tragic news.

Ahead of the Champions League clash with Arsenal, Kimmich missed training for personal reasons, which Bayern have now confirmed to be a death in his immediate family.

"Due to a death in his immediate family, Joshua Kimmich is not in the squad today for the match against Arsenal London," Bayern wrote in a club statement.

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

"In deep sympathy, the entire FC Bayern stands by Joshua Kimmich's side."

Later reports from various outlets have revealed the death to be Kimmich's father, who he is said to have been very close to.

The news comes just one week after Ateltico Madrid captain Koke was forced to miss their Champions League meeting with Manchester United following the sudden death of his mother, Ana Merodio Borja.

The devastating news means Bayern Munich will be without two key players for the Arsenal clash with Michael Olise also absent due to a one-match ban after he was sent off against Viking in their Champions League opener.

Manager Vincent Kompany could also miss the match after it emerged that a virus has left him in pain when he walks.

Speaking about the illness,, Kompany's assistant coach Aaron Danks said on Tuesday: "It has affected his legs, yes. He has had pain in his legs.

"The most important thing for him now is to rest and I don't know if he will be ready tomorrow or in two or three days' time.

"Getting him to rest is hard. He's a leader. But it's a virus and it's really important that he rests.

"He is at home at the moment but I am in constant communication with him and he will be involved tomorrow, whether that's at the Allianz or not I don't know at the moment."

Topics: Joshua Kimmich, Bayern Munich, Champions League, Football News, Arsenal

Ben McCrum is a Sports Journalist at SPORTbible, covering Formula One, MMA, football and golf, previously working with TNT Sports and Manchester Evening News, having achieved gold standard in his NCTJ diploma in multimedia Sports Journalism with News Associates. Alongside writing articles, he's busy winning the office Last Man Standing competition and FPL League (finishing 32nd in the world in 2024/25).

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