Arsenal will have to come from behind to progress into the Champions League final when they take on Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday.
The Gunners were beaten by a solitary goal from Ousmane Dembele at the Emirates in midweek, with the Frenchman steering past David Raya in the fourth minute, following good work from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Despite recovering after a rocky opening half an hour, Mikel Arteta’s team didn’t quite have enough offensive firepower to find an equaliser in N5.
Dembele may miss the second leg through injury, damaging PSG’s hopes, while Arsenal should be confident that they can overturn a one-goal deficit after showing glimpses that they can physically dominate the French side in the first leg.
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Mikel Arteta says he was ‘shocked’ when he saw Arsenal’s injured players before PSG clash
Despite some encouraging signs, what might ultimately hold Arsenal back is the extensive injury list that Arteta has to contend with.
Gabriel Magalhaes is out for the season with a hamstring injury, while Gabriel Jesus and Takehiro Tomiyasu also won’t feature again this campaign.
Arteta confirmed that Jorginho, Riccardo Calafiori and Kai Havertz could all be available at some point in the remainder of this season in his press conference on Friday afternoon.
However, all three players are facing late fitness tests to determine whether they’re in contention for the second leg against PSG.
Speaking about Arsenal’s injury issues in his press conference, Arteta said he was ‘shocked’ when he saw all the absentees sitting together in the home dressing room at the Emirates on Tuesday.
“I was very shocked before PSG as I was walking into the dressing room and saw all of the injured players seated,” he said.
“Tomiysau, Calafiori, Gabriel, [Thomas] Partey, Havertz, Jesus, Jorginho – that’s a starting line-up and we don’t have them for many months.
“But then I felt joy about the team, and no one is talking about it in the building but it’s happening. I feel pride about how the club is reacting.”
Kai Havertz’ return would be a huge boost for Arsenal in Champions League pursuit
The initial diagnosis for Havertz was that he’d almost certainly be out for the season, and maybe not even ready for the start of pre-season.
However, it appears the German has progressed quickly in his rehabilitation, and Arteta confirmed that Arsenal are hopeful that the striker could play multiple games at the end of this campaign.
The Gunners’ top scorer with 15 goals in all competitions this term, Havertz returning to action at the business end of the season could be a huge boost for the team if they’re still in the Champions League.
Arteta has deployed Mikel Merino as a makeshift striker in the former Chelsea man’s absence, and while the Spaniard has put in a valiant effort in an unnatural role, he lacks some of Havertz’ key attributes.
Much better at running in behind and getting shots off inside the box, Havertz’s presence would significantly increase the Gunners’ chances of scoring in a European final.
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