PSG receive massive Ousmane Dembele injury boost ahead of Arsenal clash

Paris Saint-Germain have been handed a timely boost ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League semifinal second leg against Arsenal, with Ousmane Dembele declared fit to play.

The Ligue 1 champions will aim to build on growing squad cohesion as they target a place in the final.

Dembele, who scored the decisive goal in last week’s 1–0 win at the Emirates Stadium, had been a doubt after picking up a muscle injury during the match.

However, he is now available for selection at the Parc des Princes.

“He has been training with the squad for two days so he is available for tomorrow,” PSG coach Luis Enrique said on Tuesday.

This is positive news for a PSG side whose progress this season has been driven more by collective spirit and tactical maturity than by individual brilliance – qualities that have often eluded them in past European campaigns.

Dembele scored the decisive goal in last week’s 1–0 win at the Emirates Stadium

Luis Enrique, tasked with reshaping a team once built around marquee stars, has been clear about his mission to create a cohesive unit capable of competing at the highest level.

“This season we’ve grown so much as a team,” he said. “You have to be ready for any scenario and pay attention from start to finish. The target for the coming years is to keep improving the process.

“We’re bound to suffer because our opponents don’t have a favourable result.

“We need to match our performance as closely as possible in the first leg to win the return leg and stay true to our ideas.”

Both teams are chasing their first-ever Champions League title and a place in the final for the second time in their history.

Paris Saint-Germain fell to Borussia Dortmund at this stage last season and lost their only final appearance to Bayern Munich in 2020.

Arsenal, meanwhile, reached the final in 2006, where they were defeated by Barcelona.