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Arsenal have received a boost ahead of their Champions League semi-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain, with three players returning to training ahead of Wednesday’s match.
The Gunners trail 1-0 after a disappointing first-leg showing at the Emirates Stadium, where Ousmane Dembélé’s early strike gave PSG a slender advantage and left Arsenal with it all to do in the return leg at the Parc des Princes. Mikel Arteta’s men will now need a near-flawless performance in Paris to reach only their second Champions League final in club history.
Domestic form hasn’t favoured Arsenal heading into the high-stakes encounter. They’ve secured just one win in their last five Premier League outings—a narrow result over already relegated Ipswich Town—and suffered a damaging 2-1 home defeat to Bournemouth at the weekend.
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However, Tuesday’s training session brought positive news, with Jurrien Timber, Martin Ødegaard, and Riccardo Calafiori all involved in full squad training. Timber was absent from the Bournemouth game due to injury, while Ødegaard was forced off early with a knock, raising fears over their availability for the midweek European tie. Their participation in training now suggests both could be fit to play a part in Paris.
Riccardo Calafiori (Image credit: Getty Images)Calafiori’s return is also a major boost for Arteta. The Italian defender has been sidelined since the March international break after sustaining an injury while on duty for Italy. The 22-year-old has missed six Premier League matches and three Champions League fixtures, during which Arteta has leaned on Myles Lewis-Skelly at left-back and Jakub Kiwior at centre-half. While both youngsters have acquitted themselves well, the return of Calafiori offers added depth and flexibility for the final stretch of the season.
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There was no sign of Jorginho or Kai Havertz in training, with both players still recovering from injuries and facing a race to return before the season concludes. Gabriel Magalhães, Gabriel Jesus, and Takehiro Tomiyasu also remain unavailable and are not expected back before the campaign’s end.
A clearer picture of player availability is expected once Arsenal travel to Paris later on Tuesday, with final squad decisions likely to be confirmed ahead of Wednesday’s pivotal encounter.
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