Arsenal dream Ousmane Dembele scenario unfolding ahead of PSG Champions League semi-final

While Arsenal have to face Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Wednesday, the Gunners will already have one eye on next week's Champions League semi-final first-leg against Paris Saint-Germain.

Mikel Arteta's side face PSG at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, May 1, eight days before the second leg at the Parc des Princes. A spot in the Champions League final is up for grabs, with Inter Milan and Barcelona competing in the other semi-final.

Arsenal will hope to have as many of their first-team squad in form and raring to go when they meet PSG. Bukayo Saka has been excellent since returning to action, while Gabriel Martinelli, Mikel Merino, Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice have found their touch in recent weeks.

As for PSG, however, one of their star performers has come off the boil. Having started 2025 with a blitz, Ousmane Dembele's form has declined of late, failing to score in each of his last four appearances. He has netted just twice in April, with both of them coming against Ligue 2 side Dunkerque.

Dembele was criticised by L'Equipe following PSG's 1-1 draw against Nantes on Tuesday, with the French newspaper saying that he has been 'slowing down'. The French news outlet states that the France international was 'overplaying in certain sequences' and appears to be 'growing frustrated with his temporary drought'.

He was unable make much of an impact against Nantes. In fact, the former Barcelona forward had two just shots, made one key pass and one successful dribble before he was substituted in the 63rd minute. Despite this, PSG head coach Luis Enrique doesn't seem concerned about Dembele's lack of recent form.

"I don't know, I don't think so. Sometimes you can make up your own mind. In these cases, the best thing would be to ask Ousmane. Everyone manages their emotions as best they can, or want to, or know how to," said Enrique, when asked about the possible frustration of the Ligue 1 top scorer.

"My goal is for everyone to arrive in the best possible shape for the final matches, which isn't always possible for everyone. But we manage according to what happens.

"The main thing is that we arrive full of hope for the upcoming matches, with the best possible state of mind, guided by the past months. If a player gets frustrated, for me, it doesn't matter."

If Dembele is not at his best, it would give Arsenal a major boost in the Champions League semi-final. Although PSG have other attacking outlets, such as Desire Doue, Bradley Barcola and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Dembele not being in top form would be a 'dream' scenario for the Gunners.

But should Dembele return to form for the trip to Arsenal then Arteta's men have got a real job on their hands to stop him. He has scored 32 goals and added 11 assists in 43 matches this season.

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