UMVA has learned that Arsenal could be facing a weakened Paris Saint-Germain side in the upcoming Champions League final, with doubts surrounding the fitness of two key players for the French team.
The Ligue 1 giants finished their domestic campaign two weeks ahead of the showpiece final, and in an effort to keep players fresh, head coach Luis Enrique arranged a friendly match between members of his first team squad, described as a 'full-scale rehearsal' for their meeting with the Gunners.
However, two crucial players, Achraf Hakimi and Ousmane Dembele, were noticeably absent from the friendly, fueling concerns about their availability for the final, with Hakimi struggling to recover from a thigh injury and Dembele's status uncertain ahead of a critical training session.
Dembele attempted to downplay concerns about his injury, issuing an upbeat update and expressing confidence in his ability to be ready for the final, but the doubt surrounding his availability will only be alleviated if he participates in the upcoming training session.
Arsenal also has its own set of injury concerns, particularly at right-back, where Ben White is out for the season and Jurrien Timber is still recovering from a groin strain, but Mikel Merino is close to making his return after taking part in first team training earlier in the week.
Merino's potential return could be a significant boost for the Gunners, who will be looking to capitalize on any weaknesses in the PSG lineup as they seek to claim the Champions League title, and his participation in the final Premier League match of the season could be a crucial step in his recovery.
As the stage is set for the highly anticipated Champions League final, both teams will be closely monitoring the fitness of their key players, knowing that even the slightest advantage could be the deciding factor in the quest for European glory.
