Arsenal vs PSG team news: Angel Di Maria 'doubtful' for Emirates clash, Unai Emery confirms
Paris St Germain have been handed a sizeable injury blow ahead of their crucial Champions League tie with Arsenal as Angel Di Maria looks set to miss the Emirates clash.
The Argentine winger was withdrawn in the first half of PSG’s 2-0 Ligue 1 win over Nantes on Saturday and looks likely to be unavailable to Emery, who had suggested that he had initially withdrawn his star player as a “precaution”.
However Di Maria, who joined his team-mates on the Emirates pitch for a pre-match training session, now faces a battle to prove his fitness to Emery for a match PSG cannot afford to lose if they are to top their Champions League group.
“With regards to Di Maria he is going to training and he’s doubtful,” Emery said.
“He wants to play and if he doesn’t experience any pain in his foot then he is going to play. However if it’s a big risk then afterwards we need to talk to the physio, the doctor and the player himself.”
Di Maria’s potential absence adds to Emery’s growing list of concerns for Wednesday night, with midfielders Javier Pastore and Adrien Rabiot having stayed behind in Paris as they recover from injuries.
First-choice goalkeeper Alphonse Areola suffered a sprained ankle on international duty and will also undergo a late fitness test, though Emery is confident that the French champions have the strength in depth to survive without several key players.
“The final training session will be important. I think Areola has been training on an individual basis over the last week and trained on an individual basis yesterday, I think he should be ready. Tonight’s training session, that will be the time to make that call.
“But Kevin Trapp [PSG’s backup goalkeeper] has played matches, he has played well. The team have confidence in him. He went out of the team with an injury but the decision is easy for me because I have faith in both goalkeepers.”
One who will certainly be out is right back Serge Aurier, who was denied a visa to travel to London because of a recent assault conviction.
“First and foremost the club did everything in it's power for Serge to be amongst us tonight,” Emery said.
“Every footballer wants to be involved in a fixture like this but ultimately the decision was not down to us.
“As a coach I have a lot of faith in Thomas Meunier and the other defenders, I think they have shown a lot of confidence and are team players.
“The decision didn't come down to us. I can't do anything about it. The decision doesn't come down to me, it is not in my hands.”
ArticlePSG star Di Maria 'doubtful' for crucial Arsenal clashAngel di MariaParis Saint-GermainArsenalUnai EmerySerge Aurier