Arsenal handed huge injury boost ahead of PSG clash as two stars return to training
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Arsenal have been handed a major boost ahead of their Champions League semi-final first leg against Paris Saint-Germain, with Mikel Merino returning to training. Ben White has also been declared fit for the crucial clash at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.
Both Merino and White missed last Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace, with neither player named in the matchday squad. After that game, manager Mikel Arteta confirmed that fitness issues had ruled the duo out completely.
“They couldn’t be involved — if not, they would have been,” Arteta explained. “Unfortunately, after the game against Ipswich, we had some issues and they were not fit.”
When asked if they would recover in time to face PSG, Arteta said: “We’ll have to wait and see. They weren’t able to be in the squad today.”
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Meanwhile, Riccardo Calafiori continues his recovery from a knee injury sustained during international duty with Italy in March. Arteta recently confirmed that the defender is making good progress and could yet feature against PSG.
🚨Mikel Merino is back in full first-team training ahead of the game against PSG tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/bkXkgtCpup
— now.arsenal (@now_arsenaI) April 28, 2025
However, Arsenal will be without Jorginho for Tuesday’s match. The experienced midfielder is sidelined with a rib injury picked up earlier this month against Brentford. Thomas Partey is also unavailable due to suspension after collecting his third yellow card of the Champions League campaign in the quarter-final win over Real Madrid.
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Following their stunning elimination of the reigning champions, Arsenal are now considered favourites to lift the Champions League trophy for the first time, according to Opta’s Supercomputer. The model gives the Gunners a 31.3% chance of winning the competition — the highest among the final four teams.
It’s a golden opportunity for Arsenal, who hold the unwanted record for most Champions League appearances (199) without winning the title. PSG, their semi-final opponents, are second on that list with 163 matches played without success.
Opta’s projections place Barcelona second-favourites with a 27.4% chance, while Inter Milan are considered the outsiders, given just a 19.2% likelihood of claiming the trophy.
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