Why is Ousmane Dembele dropped by Luis Enrique for the fixture against Arsenal?

Premier League's runner-up Arsenal are going to face Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint Germain in what will be both teams' second fixture in the current season of the UEFA Champions League.

Ousmane Dembélé (27) has been excluded from Paris Saint-Germain’s squad to face Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, as reported by RMC Sport and confirmed by L’Équipe.

Dembélé, a key player in the PSG side currently leading Ligue 1, has appeared in all six of Les Parisiens' league games, scoring four goals and providing four assists. He notably contributed to the 3-1 victory over Stade Rennais on Friday by starting the match and registering an assist.

The Reason for Taking Such an Action

After the game, it is understood that Dembélé was involved in a heated argument with manager Luis Enrique. As a disciplinary measure, the manager has decided to exclude the winger from the Champions League match against Arsenal. Consequently, Dembélé will not be traveling with the team to London. In contrast, midfielder Vitinha, who has sufficiently recovered from injury, has been included in the traveling squad to face Arsenal.

The Story so Far for Paris Saint Germain

The Ligue 1 giants, Paris Saint Germain, won their first UEFA Champions League Fixture 1-0 against Girona, after the La Liga team netted an own goal in the dying minutes of the game at Parc Des Princes. Paris Saint Germain currently sits at 15th spot in the UEFA Champions League standings with 3 points and +1 Goal Difference.

The Gunners squared off against Seria A Club Atalanta in their first Champions League fixture of the seaon. Both the teams held onto a goal-less draw at Gewiss Stadium. Arsenal currently sits at 16th Spot in the Champions League leaderboard with 1 point they salvaged from one match.

Dembele will be missed in a key fixture

The absence of the French international (51 caps, 6 goals) will force the Spaniard to alter his plans as the player is a crucial component of the Parisian system. He has been the most influential player this season, with four goals and three assists, surpassing Bradley Barcola (6 goals). On a positive note, PSG will welcome back their midfielder, Vitinha (24 years old), who missed the last game due to illness.