Key Points

Paris Saint-Germain prepares for a high-stakes Champions League semi-final clash with Arsenal, bolstered by Ousmane Dembele's return from injury. The French forward, who scored the decisive goal in the first leg, has been declared fit by coach Luis Enrique. Teammate Achraf Hakimi highlighted Dembele's exceptional skills, calling him a "genius on the ball" who can change game dynamics. The match promises intense competition, with PSG holding a slim 1-0 advantage and Arsenal hungry to overturn the result.

Key Points: Dembele Returns Genius Hakimi Warns Arsenal PSG Clash

  • Dembele returns after hamstring injury for critical Champions League match
  • PSG leads 1-0 from first leg with top scorer back
  • Luis Enrique confirms forward's availability
  • Hakimi praises Dembele's game-changing abilities
2 min read

'He is a genius on the ball': PSG's Hakimi as Dembele returns for Arsenal clash

PSG's Ousmane Dembele fit for crucial Champions League semi-final return against Arsenal after scoring decisive first-leg goal

"He is a genius on the ball - Achraf Hakimi on Dembele"

Paris, May 6

Paris Saint Germain head coach Luis Enrique confirmed Ousmane Dembele will be a part of the side that faces Arsenal in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.

Arsenal is currently trailing PSG by one goal after Dembele's fourth minute strike from outside the box secured a 1-0 victory for the Ligue 1 winners in North London.

The French forward is Paris St-Germain's top scorer this season with 33 goals in all competitions. Having gone off with a hamstring problem after scoring against Arsenal last week, he appeared to be moving well in the session on Tuesday morning.

"He's been training with us for the last two days. You saw him on Tuesday - a normal training session for him. He'll be available on Wednesday," said Enrique in the pre-game conference.

PSG's attacking wingback Achraf Hakimi called Dembele a genius on the ball and was delighted on his return.

"He is the type of player who makes you want to go to the stadium to watch because he is a genius on the ball, even if he doesn't have many chances. He can change the course of the game so we are delighted to have him back in the team," said Hakimi.

Arsenal and PSG are equally finely poised, with the French side holding a slender advantage. Dembele's early strike in London has put Paris within touching distance of only their second-ever final.

Despite the lead, the French champions cannot afford to be complacent. Arsenal, known for their unpredictability and history of pulling off upsets in big games, could level the tie early and shift momentum.

Enrique further elaborated on what could prove to be key for his side in the clash.

"Which means knowing that we will suffer at some point of this game, because the opponents doesn't have a favourable result. So it will be like in the first leg, a game balanced between both sides. I think we will need to put in a similar performance that in the first leg and most importantly stay true to our philosophy that led us to this point," added the Spanish head coach.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rahul K.
Dembele is pure class! As an Indian football fan who stays up late to watch UCL, I can say he's been PSG's X-factor this season. That goal against Arsenal was world-class. Hope he stays fit for the return leg! 🇮🇳⚽
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Priya M.
Arsenal shouldn't be written off so easily! Remember how we Indians celebrated when underdogs win? That Emirates crowd will be electric. PSG's defense needs to be at their absolute best. #NorthLondonFaithful
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Amit S.
Hakimi is right - Dembele is a magician with the ball. But as an Indian who follows football closely, I think PSG's over-reliance on him could be risky. What if Arsenal marks him out of the game? They need a Plan B.
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Sanjana R.
Watching these European matches at 1:30 AM IST is tough but totally worth it for games like this! 😴⚽ Both teams have Indian fanbases - my college WhatsApp group is split 50-50 between PSG and Arsenal supporters. The debates are hilarious!
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Vikram J.
Enrique's strategy talk makes sense, but as someone who's seen PSG choke in big games before, I'm not convinced. That 1-0 lead is like a samosa - looks filling but disappears quickly if you're not careful! Arsenal can turn this around.
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Neha P.
As much as I admire Dembele's skills, I wish Indian football got even 10% of this coverage in our sports media. We have talented players too who deserve this kind of spotlight. Hope ISL continues to grow! 🇮🇳

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