Arsenal’s prospects of overturning a one-goal deficit against Paris Saint-Germain in France next week have been improved by the uncertainty surrounding Ousmane Dembele’s participation.
The new prolific forward launched PSG into a fourth-minute lead against the Gunners on Tuesday evening during the first leg of their Champions League semi-final. This bobbling effort marked Dembele’s 33rd goal of the season and his 25th in 2025 already.
Beyond his relentless goal-scoring, Dembele troubled Arsenal by roaming deep and causing chaos in the gaps of uncertainty between the hosts’ defense and midfield. It was not accidental that Mikel Arteta’s team appeared to gain more control after PSG’s goalscorer was taken off in the 69th minute.
PSG boss Luis Enrique subsequently confirmed that Dembele’s removal was due to a hamstring issue. When asked about the severity of the injury after his side’s 1-0 win, the Spanish manager shrugged: “I don’t know.
“He’ll undergo tests tomorrow. It’s not serious. It’s something very minor, but he’s probably a doubt for the second leg.”
“We’re going to try to get Dembele back on the pitch,” Enrique continued. “But we’re a real team. If Ousmane can play, that’s better. But if he doesn’t, we’ll still be a real team. We’ve been saying that since the start of the season.”
Following the departures of Neymar, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, bringing an end to what PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi described as the club’s “bling bling” era, Enrique has made a clear attempt to forge a team devoid of stars. Dembele may be the leading scorer, but Bradley Barcola (18), Goncalo Ramos (15) and Desire Doue (14) have all also hit double digits this season.
Arsenal know all too well the toll that injuries can have on the team. Arteta blamed Tuesday’s defeat on his side’s ruinous fitness record this season compared to PSG’s stellar bill of health. “It’s clear,” the Gunners boss sighed. “They go to the end of the of the season in April with all the players and the squad available at their best.”
Arteta is still hopeful of overturning the 1-0 deficit in France on Wednesday 7 May and Arsenal can take some hope from the fact that PSG’s last home game ended in a 3-1 defeat to Nice. Yet, even without Dembele, Arteta was right in admitting that it will “take something special” for Arsenal to advance to this season’s Champions League final.
