Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé has been declared fit and will be part of the squad facing Arsenal in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal this Wednesday.
Coach Luis Enrique confirmed that Dembélé, who netted the winning goal in PSG’s 1-0 victory in London last week, has returned to training over the past two days and is ready for action. The French international missed PSG’s weekend Ligue 1 loss to Strasbourg as a precaution, with Enrique resting key players in anticipation of the crucial European clash.
Dembélé’s form in this year’s Champions League has been impressive, with eight goals in nine appearances. His return provides a significant boost for the Parisian side as they look to secure their spot in the final.
PSG right-back Achraf Hakimi praised Dembélé’s impact, saying, “He’s the kind of player who makes people want to come to the stadium. He has the talent to change the game at any moment — he’s a magician with the ball. We’re thrilled to have him back.”
UEFA statistics highlight PSG’s strong position — the club has advanced in 18 out of 19 ties where they won the first leg away. Arsenal, by contrast, has never recovered from a first-leg home loss in European competition, having fallen short in all five previous attempts. Still, Enrique urged caution and focus ahead of the return leg at Parc des Princes.
“We know it will be a tough match because Arsenal needs a result,” Enrique said. “We must replicate our performance from the first leg and remain committed to our playing philosophy.”
Both clubs are chasing their first Champions League trophy and aiming for a second appearance in the final. PSG previously reached the final in 2020 but lost to Bayern Munich, while Arsenal’s only final came in 2006, when they were beaten by Barcelona.