Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta is having a rethink of his strategy for their Champions League clash against Paris St Germain Tuesday at the Emireates Stadium after Ousmane Dembélé was ruled out for the game.
Dembélé has been a force in the PSG campaign so far as they top of Ligue 1. The France international has featured in all six of Les Parisiens league games, scoring four goals and registering four assists in that time. He started and registered an assist during the 3-1 victory over Stade Rennais last Friday.
But he did not travel to London with the rest of the squad following a row between him and PSG coach Luis Enrique after the victory over Rennes.
“I heard the news just before the press conference. I was surprised. I don’t know what happened, Arteta told Canal+
“We’ve already done a lot of preparation on PSG playing with him because he’s a key player for them. He has the ability to do something unexpected, to create these magic moments. Let’s see who is going to be there [to replace him].”
Meanwhile Ben White will miss the game due to a groin injury that sidelined him in the games against Bolton and Leicester he was not part of the training on Monday. But Riccardo Calafiori was present following an injury scare against Leicester. Takehiro Tomiyasu was also involved.
Calafiori appeared to injure his hamstring late on in the 4-2 win, sparking fears he could be set for a spell on the sidelines.
“We are trying to keep him in the cage, because he’s been pushing everyone – the physios, the doctors, everybody – and he’s ready to go, and he really wants it,” Arteta said.
“I think we are comfortable now to start exposing him with contact, and he looked really good in training.”
