PSG are counting on Ousmane Dembele to star in their Champions League semi-final against Arsenal, though the Frenchman has been battling a problem in his recent games
Arsenal icon Emmanuel Petit has leapt to the defence of Ousmane Dembele amid the PSG star’s difficult run of form. Dembele has been one of the stars of Luis Enrique’s side this season as they stormed to the Ligue 1 title.
They have also reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, where they will face the Gunners. But heading into next week’s first leg at the Emirates Stadium, Dembele has hit a scoring problem.
Tuesday night’s draw with Nantes was Dembele’s fourth successive game without a goal. The Frenchman had just one shot on target and only two touches in the Nantes box before being subbed off just after the hour mark.
It is the worst drought Dembele has experienced since December and has come at the worst possible time for PSG. With the Ligue 1 title wrapped up, their full focus is on winning the Champions League for the first time.
Arsenal represent a daunting challenge, with Mikel Arteta’s side having lost just one game in the league phase and knockouts combined. But Petit, who spent three years with the Gunners, does not believe that Dembele’s struggles to score are anything to worry about.
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“There’s no let-up! In the Champions League quarter-finals, he was decisive, providing the assist in both matches. I don’t know what you’re expecting,” Petit told the Rothen s’enflamme podcast.
“What are you waiting for? For him to score, make assists, and win every match single-handedly? Not even two weeks ago, he was decisive against Aston Villa. Now, we’re only talking about the match against Nantes… I heard that on other shows, too, I fell out of bed.”
Petit’s confidence appears well-placed, with Dembele having scored 32 goals and notched 11 assists in all competitions. Before travelling to Arsenal, PSG will first host Nice in the Parc des Princes.
It is unknown at this point whether boss Enrique will rest any of his players for that game. But having been questioned on Dembele’s run of form after the draw with Nantes, the PSG boss issued an angry slapdown of criticism of the attacker.
“My goal as a coach is for my players to be at their best.” Enrique said. “Sometimes you make up stories, ask Ousmane. Everyone manages their emotions as best they can, as best they know how, and as best they want.
“Whether a player is more or less frustrated after a match, it doesn’t matter to me. It’s always difficult to play away from home, especially in a stadium like here in Nantes, with a great atmosphere.
“We’re happy, but at the same time, we made a few mistakes and Nantes took advantage to score their goal. In the end, it’s a draw and we have to keep going. We now we need to rest and focus on Friday, as that will be a completely different match.”
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