William Saliba has warned that facing Ousmane Dembélé in the Champions League final will be one of the toughest tests of his season, while also insisting that Paris Saint-Germain will have to deal with an equally difficult challenge from Arsenal’s defense.
Speaking in a joint interview with his Arsenal teammate Gabriel on Canal+, the France international defender reflected on the highly anticipated showdown between the Gunners and PSG. Saliba and Dembélé, both called up to the French national team, are expected to join the squad later than planned because of the Champions League final.
Saliba said it is always difficult to play against Dembélé, whom he described as the Ballon d’Or holder and an extraordinary player. He acknowledged that stopping the PSG forward will require full concentration from himself and his teammates, whether it is him or Gabriel assigned to mark him. At the same time, Saliba made clear that Arsenal will also pose major problems for PSG.
“There is one of us two who will have to go after him, sometimes me, sometimes him,” Saliba explained. “We know it is always annoying to play against Ousmane. He is the Ballon d’Or, an extraordinary player. It will be hard to play against him, but it will also be hard to play against us. It will be a good match, but we will have to be focused and try to stop everyone.”
The defender’s remarks underline the respect Arsenal hold for PSG’s attacking threat, while also showing confidence in the English side’s defensive structure ahead of the final. The match is expected to feature intense tactical battles, with Saliba and Gabriel likely central to Arsenal’s plans to contain Dembélé and PSG’s frontline.
The comments also highlight the significance of the final for the French international contingent, with both Saliba and Dembélé set to arrive late to national team duty because of club commitments. For Saliba, the occasion offers a chance to test himself against one of Europe’s most dangerous attackers on the biggest stage in club football.
With both teams preparing for a decisive encounter, Saliba’s message was clear: Dembélé is a world-class threat, but PSG should expect Arsenal to make life just as difficult at the other end.
