Frank Christian
Ousmane Dembele will miss PSG’s UEFA Champions League match against Arsenal because he stayed in Paris.
The Ligue 1 titleholders arrive in London aiming to continue their unbeaten streak this season, which includes five wins and a draw in their domestic league, plus a victory in their opening European match against Girona.
However, Dembele did not travel to the UK, with speculation suggesting he has been dropped by coach Luis Enrique due to a recent argument.
Will Ousmane Dembele play against Arsenal?
Dembele is out of the game against Arsenal after being excluded from the traveling squad, despite his impressive performance at the start of the 2024/25 season. The French winger has netted four goals and provided three assists in Ligue 1 so far.
Parisian squad for the trip to Arsenal, tomorrow at 9pm CEST
#ARSPSG pic.twitter.com/BocPf5aQWa
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) September 30, 2024
Reasons Behind Dembele’s Exclusion by Luis Enrique
The decision to drop Dembele stems from an issue with Luis Enrique, who criticized Dembele openly during their last match, a 3-1 win over Rennes.
Dembele was substituted in the 82nd minute, with reports indicating that Enrique was displeased with Dembele’s tendency to hold onto the ball instead of assisting teammates during crucial plays.
Ousmane Dembélé has been dropped by Luis Enrique for the game against Arsenal! They had an argument after the game against Rennes on Friday night and Luis Enrique didn’t like it so Dembélé, PSG’s best player this season, is not in the squad. @ESPNFC
— Julien Laurens (@LaurensJulien) September 30, 2024
This incident was a prominent topic in Luis Enrique’s pre-match conference, where he stated, “If someone doesn’t respect the obligations to play for this team and is not ready, I will act. This week is important, including this match, and I want my players in optimal condition. Hence, I chose to leave him out for the advantage of the team.”
