Dembele and Partey's Presence, Key to PSG Versus Arsenal Duel

PARIS, TUESDAY — Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey is confirmed to be able to play again after being absent due to a card accumulation, while Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele is doubtful to appear due to a thigh muscle injury. The presence of both will be crucial in the decisive Champions League semifinal match.

PSG will host Arsenal in the second semifinal match at the Parc des Princes Stadium on Thursday (8/5/2025) at 02:00 WIB. Although they hold a 0-1 aggregate lead, the home team approaches the duel with a bit of concern. Dembele, the goal scorer in the first match, is still uncertain regarding his condition.

Dembele was seen back in team training on Monday. However, the fitness of the French national team player is still in doubt regarding his ability to play the full match from the start. He had suffered a thigh issue and had to be substituted during the second half of the first match, earlier in the week.

PSG is in great need of Dembele in the upcoming match. In addition to playing a role in goal production, he is a cornerstone of the 4-3-3 system implemented by head coach Luis Enrique. The forward plays a very complex role. There is no other PSG player who can fill that position.

Dembele, who can play in all positions in the front line, was positioned as a central striker. Uniquely, he was given the role to move freely anywhere. The aim was to create space. As in the first match, he retrieved the ball even to the midfield to disrupt Arsenal's defensive structure.

Thierry Henry, the living legend of the French national team and Arsenal, said that PSG lost their dominance without Dembele. "After Dembele was withdrawn, PSG dropped back more (defensively). Arsenal found it easier to press because Dembele was not there to pick up the ball," he said on CBS Sport, last Wednesday.

Henry's statement is reflected in the statistics. PSG managed to dominate ball possession at the Emirates Stadium with 59.2 percent during the first 70 minutes with Dembele. After he was substituted and replaced by Bradley Barcola, PSG's possession dropped to 33 percent.

PSG's need for Dembele has become increasingly urgent in the second match. This is because Arsenal will arrive with full strength. "The Gunners" can once again utilize Partey, who was absent last week. Without the anchor midfielder, Arsenal's attacking and defensive systems are disrupted.

One of the aspects that was missing from Arsenal in the first meeting was the threat posed by midfielder Declan Rice in the final third. Typically, Rice, as a "number 8," is granted the freedom to advance, both with and without possession. That role was not evident as Rice had to fill Partey's position.

When Partey returns, the system of the team managed by Mikel Arteta will return to normal. Rice will harass opposing midfielders as they attempt to build attacks from the back. Vitinha, the midfielder who orchestrates the attack for PSG, will not have the same freedom at the Emirates Stadium.

Partey gives this team more balance. Without him, that balance is disturbed.

The visiting team has no choice but to avoid elimination. They must score goals. The way to do this is by playing more aggressively, especially when off the ball. Therefore, Partey's presence will be crucial for Arsenal. "We know how important Partey is," said Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.

In addition, alongside Partey, Arsenal will also have a bridge of attack connecting the defense to the front line once again. This bridge was severed by PSG in the previous duel. The Ghana national team player is very skilled at breaking through the opponent's pressure and reading spaces.

“You could see Partey’s absence was the reason Bukayo Saka didn’t get the ball,” former Arsenal defender Matthew Upson told BBC Sport of the first-leg issues. “Partey gives the team more balance. Without him, that balance is off.”

In addition to the issue with Dembele, PSG is significantly better off in terms of team fitness compared to Arsenal. The team coached by Enrique rotated ten players in the match against Strasbourg last weekend. Only midfielder Joao Neves was a key player who was fielded.

Arsenal employed a different approach. Arteta fielded the best players, except for wing-back Jurrien Timber and midfielder Mikel Merino, in the last match against Bournemouth. The problem is that those who needed a confidence boost to head to Paris ended up losing 1-2.

"We want to create a positive atmosphere from the good results to help ahead of the upcoming match (against PSG). Instead, we have generated a lot of anger, frustration, and unpleasant feelings (after the loss). We must turn that into motivation to perform exceptionally in Paris," said Arteta.

PSG has the luxury of rotating their team as they have already secured the championship in Ligue 1. Meanwhile, Arsenal is still working hard to maintain their second position in the Premier League. "The Gunners" are even at risk of falling out of the Champions League zone due to a poor trend over the past month.

PSG only needs a draw to return to the final after last appearing in 2020. However, Enrique is reluctant to play it safe. "We want to win at home. Against Arsenal, you cannot afford to let your guard down even for a second. They can rewrite history in an instant," he stated. (AP/REUTERS)