PSG absences explained as two key players miss league game with Arsenal clash approaching

Paris Saint-Germain were without two players for their Ligue 1 clash with Le Havre on Saturday. The French club are now just weeks away from their Champions League semi-final dates with Arsenal.

The two sides will go head-to-head at the Emirates Stadium on April 29 and against at Parc des Princes a week later, on May 7. Both sides are in search of their first-ever Champions League title, and one of them will get a chance to do it in the final in Munich.

Arsenal have little to play for between now and the semi-finals effectively out of the Premier League title race, and so their focus will be on keeping up momentum and getting some key players back from injury. Kai Havertz could be back before the end of the season, likely eyeing the second leg or the final - if Arsenal get there - after Arteta admitted the first leg would be cutting it fine.

Meanwhile, Riccardo Calafiori should be back over the coming weeks, and Jorginho has a chance of getting back to full fitness before the first leg, a return Arsenal need with Thomas Partey suspended for the first leg.

As for PSG, they might find motivation hard to come by for different reasons, having already won the Ligue 1 title with seven games remaining. The Parisiens are actually unbeaten in the league, and they will want to remain invincible, but even Luis Enrique admitted this week that Saturday’s game with Le Havre was the ‘toughest of the season’ in terms of motivation.

PSG did manage to come out on top, winning 2-1, with Goncalo Ramos and Desire Doué on target, but they were without two key players for the game. William Pacho and star man Ousmane Dembélé were both absent, and L’Equipe explained that Pacho was dealing with a bout of illness, while Dembélé was simply rested in a bid to keep him fit for a crucial few weeks. Both players should be back for Arsenal providing there are no injuries between now and then.

After the game, Luis Enrique said: "I'm very happy. I'm happier than for most games, because I knew how difficult it would be to play this game. Playing after the Champions League knockout game against Aston Villa, we made a lot of changes in terms of players and I think it was a very important test for me and very important for the players.

“I'm happy with their performance. It's very important to main this positive dynamic. We have to think that the best way to prepare for the important matches to come is with this mentality and this character to fight for every trophy."

PSG star Ibrahim Mbaye added: "It was a very good game. We scored very early, and we got the win. We're very happy and I hope that we'll keep going like that. I try to play my game, also to adapt to my teammates. We play together at training, I try to apply what they advise me to do, the advice of the coach too. It's a pleasure to have made my first start here at the Parc."

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