First team potential to 3. Liga sub: Will Fiete Arp catch a break at Bayern Munich?

There had been so much promise for Fiete Arp at Bayern Munich when he joined from Hamburger SV two summers ago, but he just hasn’t come to fruition. Injuries have hampered his career for the past two years and he just can’t seem to find a string of consistency that would bolster his chances of being called up to Bayern’s senior squad.

A recent report by Bild points out how often Arp has been used as a substitute in Bayern’s reserve side in the 3. Liga. Most recently, he only played for a total of 26 minutes coming on as a second half sub in Bayern II’s 4-0 win over Hallescher FC. Just four days prior, he was an unused sub in the 2-0 win over SV Meppen. Of course, it’s no secret that Bayern II has been struggling in the 3. Liga this season, but even with the niggling injury problems he has, Arp probably isn’t thrilled to only have started two of Bayern II’s last seven matches.

In total, Arp has recorded three goals and two assists so far this season. Holger Seitz has experimented often with his starting lineups, but it’s clear that lately Seitz has been showing a preference to play Timo Kern and/or Lenn Jastremski up top, depending on the exact formation he winds up using. Like Arp, Jastremski has found the back of the net three times, but Kern leads the team with seven goals.

Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images for DFB

For Arp, he’ll want his fortunes to turn around as soon as possible. When Kwasi Wriedt left for Dutch side Willem II, another spot opened up in Bayern II’s attack to add to the fact that Hansi Flick had called Joshua Zirkzee up to the senior squad toward the end of the hinrunde of the 2019/2020 season. The timing of Arp’s injury setbacks have been less than ideal in that sense, as he’s missed out on ample opportunities to make a name for himself and string together a series of positive performances. It always seems to be one step forward, two steps back.

With Zirkzee now having one foot out the door with a move Everton in the Premier League looking more and more likely, there is opportunity for someone to fill a void in Flick’s senior squad. If Zirkzee leaves before the winter transfer window closes, or even this summer, that would mean that Robert Lewandowski and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting would be the only natural strikers in Bayern’s senior team. Of course, though, it’s unlikely Choupo-Moting will stay beyond this season, so there will potentially be room for Flick to call upon one of the strikers from Bayern’s reserves. If Arp can turn his fortunes around the rest of this season, he could make enough of an impression to be in consideration by Flick in addition to Kern and Jastremski.