In the crucible of a Champions League semifinal, margins are everything. And for Paris Saint-Germain, Ousmane Dembele represents more than just a recovered forward. The Frenchman is a razor-thin edge in a matchup still trembling from the first leg.
Manager Luis Enrique has officially confirmed Dembele’s inclusion in tonight’s second leg against Arsenal. “He has been training with the squad for two days so he is available for tomorrow,” Enrique told reporters on Tuesday. After missing PSG’s domestic defeat to Strasbourg, the 27-year-old French international returned to full training, his recovery from a minor hamstring injury arriving just in time.
It was Dembele, of course, who sliced open Arsenal’s defense with a fourth-minute strike at the Emirates last week, sealing a narrow 1–0 advantage for the Parisians. The goal was clinical, but his broader influence—stretches of disorganization in Arsenal’s back line, drawn by his movement—has shaped how both clubs prepared for the decider in Paris.
Expected lineups and tactical outlook for PSG-Arsenal
PSG are expected to name a lineup identical to the one that walked away from London with a clean sheet. Gianluigi Donnarumma anchors the defense behind a familiar quartet of Achraf Hakimi, Marquinhos, Willian Pacho, and Nuno Mendes. The midfield three of Joao Neves, Vitinha, and Fabian Ruiz will again be tasked with breaking Arsenal’s rhythm through pressure and possession.
Up front, Dembele is flanked by the electric Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue, who impressed in the first leg and has likely held off Bradley Barcola to keep his place. The attacking trio’s pace and unpredictability could spell trouble for an Arsenal side that struggled to track wide runners in transition.
Mikel Arteta’s team, trailing by just one, is not expected to deviate much from its setup. David Raya will start in goal, protected by a back four featuring Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Jakub Kiwior, and 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, who steps in for the injured Oleksandr Zinchenko. In midfield, the Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, and Mikel Merino trio will aim to control the tempo and support transitions. Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, and Gabriel Martinelli remain Arsenal’s best bet for goals.
Luis Enrique knows better than to expect a repeat of the cautious battle seen in north London. “We will have to be as good as last week, but while many expect the same kind of game, I guarantee you it will be completely different,” he said on Tuesday.
The stakes are unambiguous: win, and you’ll be in Munich for the final against Inter Milan.
