Arsenal have received a major lift ahead of their Champions League semi-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, with three previously doubtful players returning to training.
Crucial Returns for Arsenal
Captain Martin Ødegaard, along with defenders Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori, were all present in Tuesday’s session at London Colney. Their availability comes as a significant boost for Mikel Arteta as his side prepares for a must-win clash in Paris.
Odegaard, who appeared to injure his foot in the closing stages of Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth, looked fit and involved. Timber missed the Premier League fixture after leaving the pitch in the first leg against PSG, while Calafiori has not played since he injured his knee during international duty with Italy in March.
Arteta Wants ‘Massive Performance’ in Paris
With Arsenal needing to overturn a 1-0 deficit from the first leg at Emirates Stadium, Arteta is urging his team to channel their recent frustration into a determined performance.
“We certainly wanted to create a really good vibe,” the Arsenal boss said after the Bournemouth defeat. “A positive result would really help us to build what we wanted towards Wednesday. So what we have created now is a lot of rage, anger, frustration and a bad feeling in the tummy. So make sure that we use that for Wednesday to have a massive performance in Paris, win the game and be in the final.”
PSG Also Boosted by Dembele Return
While Arsenal’s injury concerns are easing, PSG have received their own positive update. Star forward Ousmane Dembélé, who netted the only goal in the first leg, is ready to play after recovering from a hamstring strain. The Frenchman missed the weekend’s 2-1 loss to Strasbourg but is ready for Wednesday.
Dembele has been a key figure for Luis Enrique’s side this season, contributing 33 goals and 10 assists in all competitions.
Final Showdown Set for Munich
The winner of Wednesday’s match will face Inter Milan in the Champions League final on May 31 at the Allianz Arena in Munich.
Inter secured their place in dramatic fashion, overturning a deficit against Barcelona to win 7-6 on aggregate. Francesco Acerbi scored a goal in stoppage time, while Davide Frattesi scored the winning goal in extra time. This completed a remarkable comeback. The result denied Barcelona their first final in a decade and sent the Italian champions into their second final in three seasons.
With Inter waiting in the final and PSG at full strength, Arsenal face a monumental task. However, with three key players back, their chances have been given a timely lift.
