By Rosemary Ugiomoh
Arsenal fans might feel a bit better hearing this: both Ousmane Dembele and Achraf Hakimi are racing against time to be fit for Saturday’s final.
With under a week until kickoff at the Puskas Arena, Luis Enrique is still waiting on updates for the PSG duo. Hakimi hasn’t played since pulling his hamstring in the first leg of the semifinal against Bayern Munich. The 27-year-old sat out the return leg too, and there’s now a real chance he misses the showdown with Arsenal as well.
Dembele’s situation is slightly less worrying. He picked up a calf issue in the recent derby versus Paris FC and was taken off early, which had PSG supporters on edge. L’Équipe says there’s genuine concern Hakimi won’t make the starting XI against Arsenal. The alarm around Dembele isn’t as loud, but that could change quickly if he’s still absent from training as the week goes on.
Dembele himself has tried to calm the nerves. Speaking to RMC Sport, he said: “I’m feeling good. I had a small scare against Paris FC, but I’m fine and I’ll be ready for the final. Will I be 100%? Yes, I think so. I’ll be ready. I have no doubt I’ll be on the pitch on May 30.”
Still, PSG fans would probably pick Dembele as the one they most want to see out there against the Gunners.
