UEFA Champions League
Arsenal Great Stands by Ousmane Dembele Amid Luis Enrique’s Fiery Reaction
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is counting on Ousmane Dembele to perform well in their Champions League semi-final against Arsenal. However, the French winger has been facing some difficulties recently. In light of this, Arsenal legend Emmanuel Petit has stepped up to support Dembele during this challenging time.
This season, Dembele has made a difference for Luis Enrique’s squad. He’s been instrumental in helping the team secure the Ligue 1 title and reach the Champions League semi-finals, where they’ll be up against Arsenal. However, as they prepare for the first leg at the Emirates Stadium next week, it looks like Dembele is struggling to find the back of the net. His recent performance in Tuesday’s draw with Nantes marked his fourth straight game without a goal, where he managed only one shot on target and had just two touches in the opposing team’s box before being substituted shortly after the hour mark.
Petit expressed his frustration over the criticism aimed at Dembele, emphasizing that he has been crucial in past matches, including providing key assists in the Champions League quarter-finals. He questioned the expectations placed on Dembele, pointing out that just weeks ago, he had performed well against Aston Villa.
With an impressive record of 32 goals and 11 assists in all competitions this season, Dembele has shown his potential. Before heading to Arsenal, PSG will first host Nice at home. It’s unclear whether Enrique will rest any starters for that match, but he recently defended Dembele against criticisms following the Nantes draw.
Enrique highlighted that his main goal as a coach is to help his players reach their full potential. He pointed out the challenges of playing away from home, particularly in an energetic setting like Nantes. While he acknowledged that some errors contributed to Nantes’ goal, he stressed the importance of moving on, recovering, and getting ready for their next match, which will present a completely different challenge.