PSG superstar dropped from Arsenal clash after argument with Luis Enrique: Reports

Bhargav
PSG boss Luis Enrique looks on.
PSG boss Luis Enrique looks on.

PSG boss Luis Enrique has reportedly excluded attacker Ousmane Dembele from the squad for the UEFA Champions League clash with Arsenal at the Emirates on Tuesday (October 1) due to an argument.

The incident apparently happened after the 3-1 Ligue 1 home win over Rennes on Friday. It's not known what the argument between Enrique and Dembele was. But Julien Laurens of ESPN has tweeted that the 27-year-old hasn't been included in the Parisians' squad for the matchday two trip to north London.

It's pertinent to note that Dembele has had a superb start to the season for Enrique's side. He has four goals and as many assists in six games in Ligue 1 - where the Parisians are atop the standings, ahead of Monaco on goal difference.

Dembele - who had an assist in the Rennes win - reportedly had a heated argument with Enrique and has been excluded from the squad due to disciplinary reasons (as per L'Equipe via Get Football News France).

In his lone outing in the Champions League this season, Dembele didn't make a goal contribution as Enrique's side beat competition debutants Girona 1-0 at home. Overall, the Frenchman has 12 goals and 13 assists in 52 games in the Champions League, with all but two goals and two assists coming for his former side Barcelona.


How have Arsenal fared against PSG?

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta

Arsenal and PSG have had three prior meetings, with the Gunners winning once (in a friendly in July 2018) and drawing twice - both in the UEFA Champions League.

Their first meeting in the competition was a 1-1 draw at the Parc des Princes in September 2016 followed by a 2-2 draw at the Emirates in November. In their latest clash, Olivier Giroud scored for the Gunners, while Edinson Cavani did so for the Parisians.

The game saw Marco Verratti score an own goal for the French side and Alex Iwobi doing so for the Gunners. Cavani had also scored for the Parisians in the 1-1 draw in Paris, where Alexis Sanchez netted for the Premier League side.

PSG have lost their last three away outings in the UEFA Champions League to English sides (twice to Manchester City - 2021 - and once to Newcastle United - in 2023).

The Gunners' last meeting with a French side was a 6-0 win over Lens in the group stage of the Champions League last season.

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Edited by Bhargav