Beverly Hills, Hollywood and a debut match against Arsenal — Bayern Munich’s trip to the United States is one big adventure for newly signed teenager Fiete Arp.
The 19-year-old forward came from second-division SV Hamburg to Germany’s glamour club and must now find his footing amid a collective of stars and internationals.
Arp got his debut earlier in the week in Los Angeles against the Gunners, fielded for 45 minutes by coach Niko Kovac on the left wing where Franck Ribery used to play until the end of the past season. Arp was a centre forward when he made his breakthrough in Hamburg in the spring of 2018 to attract Bayern’s attention but was certainly not complaining about the new role — given that he will have to be happy with every minute of playing time he will get.
“It didn’t feel bad. I am not really a tall centre forward. It suits me quite well to play from the wing,” he said.
Looking at the overall experience, he said: “It was a lot of fun. For the first time with the players from our team on the pitch against such an opponent — that’s all quite big.”
Arp admitted to some nerves in the early stages and did also not want to be compared with Ribery, saying: “Franck Ribery’s footsteps are too big.
I will rather be Fiete Arp.”
Arp played with a lot of courage and Kovac said he believes the youngster will give Bayern “a lot of joy” in the future.
Captain Manuel Neuer also praised Arp, naming him “very bright” and “inquisitive.” The goalkeeper said Arp “wants to show what he is capable of” but also warned that he faces a long and rocky road. “Of course we have a different pace in training. And don’t think you can compare our training regime with that in Hamburg,” Neuer said.
But Arp has said from the outset that he is there to learn, with every minute of training and in a match helping him.
“From the training ground to the interest, everything here is a step up. The ambitions are also different.” Arp said at his presentation. “I haven’t been here long but it’s staggering how huge the club really is. There’s no comparable club in Germany.
“My future is here at the club. No club has better conditions and I completely want to benefit from that and develop.
I’m convinced I’ll feel good here for a long time.”
But first of all the pre-season US trip continues, and Arp can be looking forward to another highlight on Sunday against Real Madrid in Houston.
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