Ousmane Dembele Injury Threatens PSG’s Plans Ahead of Arsenal Clash
PSG forward Ousmane Dembele is a doubt for their UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg tie with Arsenal after he suffered a hamstring injury in their fiery 1-0 win over the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium. Dembele scored the only goal in the 38th minute before departing in the second half clutching his right thigh. His early departure is a worrying sign for his fitness ahead of PSG’s crucial return leg in Paris.
PSG announced that Dembele had a hamstring strain and would miss their next Ligue 1 match against Strasbourg. The club continues to assess his progress and still hopes that he will be fit for the second leg against Arsenal. Luis Enrique insisted that priority would be given to the health of the player and not rushing the player’s return to match fitness.
The 27-year-old has been a key man for PSG this season, playing a huge role in their attack. It is a huge loss, given his speed and close control make him one of Europe’s most exciting wingers. Dembele’s loss would create a sizable hole in PSG’s attack and require tactical adjustments for the second leg. The French club will now turn to the likes of Kylian Mbappe to lead their offensive charge.
Arsenal Sees Opening, But Challenges Remain
Arsenal, who lost 1-0 in the first leg, could look to take advantage of Dembele’s absence as they chase a response. Mikel Arteta will be looking that his team can take advantage of PSG’s weakened attack. Arsenal are not without their injury problems either, although midfielder Thomas Partey is likely to come back into the starting XI, while Dembele’s absence may prove significant in the return leg.
Arsenal suffered a 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth in their most recent Premier League game, drawing criticism toward Arteta for using a near full-strength squad. With their focus now shifted to conquering Europe, the team aims to break through PSG—especially if one of Paris’ biggest attacking threats remains sidelined. Arteta’s game plan will be essential if Arsenal are to open up PSG and reverse the first-leg deficit.
By contrast, PSG are already Ligue 1 champions and will be focusing on European glory, especially with the club targeting only its second ever Champions League final. How Enrique manages his squad rotation— he left some big names out of the league game—will be key in keeping his team fresh for the battle with Arsenal.
Author’s Opinion
Ousmane Dembele’s injury is certainly a blow to PSG’s options in attack – but by no means is it over for the French giants. Even without Dembele, PSG is stacked with talent, led by Kylian Mbappe. But without Dembele, PSG are more predictable, particularly out wide. Arsenal certainly need to use this to their advantage, focusing on keeping hold of the ball in the middle of the park, whilst ensuring Mbappe is starved of space.
For Arsenal, it is now a question of whether they can display the defiance that prompted them to push PSG to the brink in the opening leg. Dembele’s injury could influence the game, but Arsenal’s success will still depend on executing a sharp, tactically smart performance. Arsenal must attack with intent while staying compact defensively to prevent PSG from exploiting them on the counter.
However, Dembele’s injury is only a part in a broader tactical fight. It’s a game where both teams will be looking for a vulnerability to take advantage of, and in a high-stakes match anything can happen. The second leg will be a good one and people will be looking forward to it all over the world.
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