PSG hope to have Dembele firing for Arsenal encounter

Paris Saint-Germain's chances of beating Arsenal and reaching the Champions League final may depend to a large extent on Ousmane Dembele rediscovering the form in front of goal that made him Europe's most lethal finisher in the first three months of this year.

- Agencies

PARIS:

Dembele scored 25 goals in 20 games in all competitions for PSG between mid-December and mid-March, his statistics those of a player completely transformed as he was turned by coach Luis Enrique from a winger into a central striker.

That included a crucial goal against Liverpool at Anfield on the way to PSG winning their Champions League last-16 tie on penalties.

However, a few days later the 27-year-old went away on international duty with France and since his return Dembele has lost some of his clinical edge.

The former Barcelona star, previously a thrilling winger but an often wayward finisher, has found the net just twice in his last seven outings at club level. Both of those goals came in a French Cup semifinal victory against second-tier Dunkerque in early April.