Tonight, Arsenal faces PSG at the Parc des Princes in the semi-final return of the Champions League. Already in difficulty after the defeat (0-1) conceded to the first leg, the Londoners hoped to approach this entire meeting. However, a few hours before kick -off, the newcomers from England are not reassuring. Several major players from Arsenal could miss this decisive match, seriously threatening their chances of overthrowing the steam against the big Parisian favorite.
In reality, if the list of absences at Arsenal is long, it is mainly composed of long -standing injuries. Kai Havertz (thigh), Gabriel Jesus (knee) and Gabriel Magalhaes (thigh) have been unavailable for several weeks and were not already in the recent plans of Mikel Arteta. To these important absences are added Jorginho (Côtes) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee), packages also known for several days. No unpleasant surprises so for Arteta, who had anticipated these defections.
The task will not be easy for Arteta and his troops.
If the situation seems dramatic at first, only two players are really uncertain a few hours before the match: Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori. These two defenders, who just come back from injury, will be subject to a final evaluation. However, the Arsenal staff should favor caution so as not to compromise the end of the season of the players concerned.
Two last -minute uncertainties in Arsenal
On the other hand, good news has arrived for Arteta: Thomas Parte is officially back. The Ghanaian midfielder, a centerpiece of the Gunners, should restore balance in the midfield and offer his coach additional solutions. His return is a real radius of hope in the delicate context of this return semi-final.
Even if Arsenal does not face a real last -minute hecatombe, the team remains weakened before challenging an almost complete PSG, with in particular the return of Ousmane Dembélé. The Londoners know that they will have to achieve great performance in the Parc des Princes if they want to hope for a historic qualification. The already complex task could be even more so with these notable, even anticipated absences.
