French Giants Need Star Striker to Recapture Stunning Form Ahead of Arsenal Semi-Final
As Paris Saint-Germain gear up for their Champions League semi-final against Arsenal, much of their success may depend on whether Ousmane Dembélé can recapture the incredible form he showed earlier this season.
The French international enjoyed a remarkable transformation under manager Luis Enrique, scoring an impressive 25 goals in just 20 matches between December and March after being converted from winger to center forward. His new-found clinical edge proved vital in big moments, including a crucial away goal at Anfield during PSG’s dramatic last-16 victory over Liverpool.
However, the 27-year-old’s production has dipped significantly since returning from international duty in March. He’s found the net only twice in his last seven club appearances, with both goals coming against second-division Dunkerque in the French Cup. More worryingly for PSG, he failed to score in either leg of their tense quarter-final against Aston Villa and couldn’t convert any of his seven attempts in Friday’s surprising 3-1 league defeat to Nice.
A Concerning Slump at Critical Moment
Dembélé’s scoring drought has mirrored PSG’s recent struggles, with the French champions winning just once in their last four matches across all competitions. This dip in form comes at the worst possible time as they prepare to face an in-form Arsenal side.
Manager Luis Enrique remains publicly unconcerned about his star attacker’s recent struggles. When questioned about Dembélé appearing frustrated after being substituted in last week’s 1-1 draw at Nantes, the Spanish coach dismissed any speculation.
“People sometimes imagine problems that aren’t there,” Enrique stated. “Every player handles their emotions differently. My focus is preparing the team for our upcoming challenges, and we approach these matches with full belief in our abilities.”
Contributing Beyond Goals
While the goals have dried up recently, Dembélé continues making valuable contributions. His excellent assist for Fabián Ruiz against Nice and his involvement in key goals against Aston Villa demonstrate he’s still impacting games. PSG also boast other attacking threats like the in-form Bradley Barcola, Désiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, whose spectacular strike against Villa showcased his quality.
The semi-final presents Dembélé with a chance for personal redemption against Arsenal. He missed PSG’s 2-0 group stage loss at the Emirates in October after being surprisingly dropped by Enrique, who later revealed it was punishment for what he deemed selfish play in a previous match.
“Not selecting him for the Arsenal game was perhaps my most important decision this season,” Enrique reflected months later. “While it drew criticism at the time, it proved to be a turning point in his development with us.”
A Pivotal Moment in His Career
Dembélé responded brilliantly to that early-season setback, embarking on his incredible scoring run that lasted through winter. Now, with PSG on the verge of their first Champions League final since 2020, the stage is set for him to silence any remaining doubters.
Having experienced semi-final heartbreak with Barcelona in 2019 and PSG last season, Dembélé understands this may represent his best opportunity to finally lift club football’s most prestigious trophy – a achievement that could even put him in Ballon d’Or contention.
For PSG’s ambitions, the equation appears straightforward: if their transformed striker can rediscover his mid-season form, they have every chance of overcoming Arsenal. If not, their European dreams may once again end in disappointment.
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Thanks for breaking this down so clearly.