Arsenal have received a significant boost ahead of their Champions League encounter with Paris Saint-Germain, as Luis Enrique has confirmed that Ousmane Dembélé has been omitted from his squad. Dembélé has scored four goals in six Ligue 1 matches for PSG this season and featured in the French club's opening Champions League victory against Girona earlier this month. However, the PSG manager disclosed that the 27-year-old French international, considered the club's most valuable asset following Kylian Mbappé's departure, did not travel to London.
Reports in the French media suggested that Dembélé had a disagreement with Luis Enrique after PSG's 3-1 win over Rennes on Friday night. Dembélé was substituted with eight minutes remaining. Speaking at the Emirates Stadium on Monday, Luis Enrique stated: "If someone fails to meet or respect the team's expectations, it indicates they are not prepared to play. Tomorrow's match is crucial, and I want all my players to be ready, which is why I have excluded him [Dembélé]. My priority is the team's best interests, and that is my role."
Luis Enrique acknowledged the difficulty of such decisions but expressed full confidence in his choice. He emphasized that while the decision is not irreversible, it was made in the best interest of the team. He added: "I was hired to win titles, though I cannot guarantee that. What I can guarantee is playing with a strong identity. If I cannot achieve this, I will step down. I have the backing of the club's president and the sporting director. My goal is to build a team, and in the future, that might include Ousmane Dembélé."
When asked about the reported altercation with Dembélé, Luis Enrique clarified: "I am straightforward, and I will be honest, but I will not turn this into a soap opera. There are no issues between us. That is entirely false. This is purely about the player's responsibilities."
Aside from Dembélé's exclusion, Luis Enrique praised Mikel Arteta, describing his former Barcelona teammate as one of the top managers in world football. "I spent a season with him at Barcelona," the PSG manager said. "He was a very young player but part of the first-team squad."
Luis Enrique noted Arteta's impressive start to his coaching career and expressed his anticipation for a brief conversation before the game. He highlighted Arteta's transformation of Arsenal from a struggling team to one of the best in the world, competing for titles. "I would even say they are the best team in Europe when it comes to playing without the ball. He is an exceptional coach and a remarkable person."
