French winger Michael Olise is suspended for the fixture after receiving two yellow cards within a minute during Bayern’s 3-3 draw against Viking last week.

The former Crystal Palace player was initially booked for a foul before being shown a red card for throwing the ball at Viking captain Zlatko Tripic following a verbal confrontation. The dismissal marked the first red card of Olise’s professional career.

His absence represents a significant setback for Bayern, considering his impressive performances since the beginning of the season.

Olise, who was born in London and spent part of his youth development at Arsenal’s academy, has registered nine goals and five assists in 10 appearances across all competitions.

His outstanding form has also strengthened his reputation as one of the leading contenders for the Ballon d’Or following an impressive campaign last season.

Bayern’s attacking concerns have been heightened by Jamal Musiala’s struggles with injury and illness, while Serge Gnabry and Lennart Karl are yet to find their best form. Consequently, Olise and England captain Harry Kane have shouldered much of the responsibility in the final third.

Kane has also enjoyed a productive start to the campaign, recording nine goals and six assists in 10 appearances.

The England international demonstrated his importance during Bayern’s encounter with Viking last week, scoring twice and providing an assist as the German side recovered from a two-goal deficit to secure a 3-3 draw.

Following Bayern’s emphatic 6-1 victory over RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga on Saturday, Kane acknowledged that losing Olise would be a major blow but insisted that other members of the squad must rise to the occasion.

“Missing one of your biggest players, you’re going to feel it for sure, but that’s where other people have to step up and show they can take their opportunity,” Kane said.

He added that the team had consistently emphasised the importance of squad depth and ensuring every player was prepared to make an impact when called upon.

“We talk about the squad a lot, we talk about being ready for your moment and whoever plays will have to be ready,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Bayern will be hoping that Colombian forward Luis Diaz can build on his impressive display against Leipzig ahead of the Arsenal encounter.

Diaz scored a hat-trick and supplied another goal during the 6-1 victory, producing one of his most outstanding performances since joining Bayern from Liverpool in 2025.

The 29-year-old had experienced difficulties making the desired impact earlier in the season, but his performance against Leipzig provided Bayern with renewed confidence in their attacking options.

Wednesday’s showdown will also revive Kane’s rivalry with Arsenal, despite his departure from north London in 2023. The striker previously spent several years at Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal’s fierce local rivals, before moving to Germany.

Bayern and Arsenal last met in the Champions League quarter-finals during the 2023/2024 campaign, with the German side progressing on aggregate. However, Arsenal defeated Bayern 3-1 during the league phase of last season’s competition.

Kane disclosed that he had not exchanged many messages with Arsenal players ahead of Wednesday’s encounter, citing the demanding football schedule.

He explained that they had discussed the upcoming fixture during a previous international break but had been too occupied with their respective clubs to maintain regular conversations.

The German giants enter the match on the back of their commanding victory over Leipzig, which further underlined their strength in domestic football.

However, Arsenal are expected to pose a formidable challenge, having won 10 of their 11 matches across all competitions this season.

The Gunners are also determined to make a strong impression in Europe after their Champions League campaign last season ended with a penalty shootout defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

Kane described the upcoming encounter as an opportunity for Bayern to assess themselves against one of the continent’s strongest sides, expressing confidence that the atmosphere at their home ground would make the occasion special.

“It’s a big game and we’re playing against one of the best teams in Europe, you have to always enjoy these occasions,” he said.

“We’re testing ourselves against one of the best, we’re here at home, the energy, the fans, it’s going to be a special night.”

Folarin publicly endorsed Alli on Monday in Ibadan, where he raised the governorship candidate’s hand before a large gathering of APC supporters who had assembled to welcome him home.

The development marks a major shift in Folarin’s position after he previously rejected the outcome of the party’s governorship primary, alleging that the process that produced Alli was marred by irregularities. His camp had demanded a fresh exercise that would be free from manipulation.

However, the former lawmaker’s decision to back Alli followed a meeting with President Bola Tinubu, who reportedly summoned him and appealed to him to support both the President’s re-election bid and Alli’s governorship ambition.

Tinubu also met with another aggrieved aspirant, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, who represents Oyo North, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja over the weekend, urging him to work towards the party’s success in the forthcoming elections.

Addressing his supporters in Ibadan, Folarin acknowledged the frustration of aspirants who lost in the APC primary, arguing that their grievances were understandable given the years they had invested in pursuing their political ambitions.

“I have invested 26 years of my life in becoming governor. If I feel cheated, am I not expected to be angry? The aggrieved members deserved to be heard and appealed to,” he said.

Despite acknowledging their concerns, Folarin urged the aggrieved members to put their differences aside and begin supporting Alli and other APC candidates from Monday.

He, however, expressed disappointment with the progress of the party’s reconciliation committee, led by Professor Taoheed Adedoja and Senator Femi Lanlehin, claiming that the committee had achieved only about 20 per cent of its assignment.

According to him, the slow progress was largely due to unresolved grievances among party members. He stressed that with the 2027 elections approaching, APC leaders must urgently work towards resolving their differences and presenting a united front.

As part of the reconciliation efforts, Folarin disclosed that he had held a meeting at Iyaganku in Ibadan with former Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu, Senator Buhari and former Oyo State Deputy Governor Rauf Olaniyan.

The former Senate Leader also pointed to his appointment by Tinubu as Coordinator of the Oyo State Presidential Campaign Council, saying the responsibility required him to work towards the success of all APC candidates in the state.

He called on party members to ensure that Tinubu secures more votes in Oyo State in 2027 than he received during the 2023 presidential election.

Folarin further urged APC supporters to work for the victory of the party’s governorship and legislative candidates in the forthcoming polls.

Beyond reconciliation, the former senator called for a review of the party’s reward system, insisting that members who contribute to its growth and electoral success should not be neglected.

He also urged Alli to collaborate with party leaders and make provisions for aggrieved members, warning against a situation in which experienced politicians would be sidelined in the process of restoring unity.

“We won’t allow Alli to rest until all aggrieved members get their own benefits,” Folarin declared.

He encouraged party leaders and supporters to inform the public about the ongoing reconciliation efforts, stressing the need to resolve the crisis quickly as the 2027 elections draw closer.