Serge Aurier Denied Entry to the UK After Court Case, Will Miss Arsenal vs. PSG

Paris Saint-Germain right-back Serge Aurier will not be able to turn out in Wednesday's UEFA Champions League clash against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium after being denied entry to the UK by British authorities. 

In a PSG statement, it was confirmed that the 23-year-old Ivorian was initially granted an entry visa before it was revoked due to Aurier's criminal conviction in September for assaulting a police officer, which is now being appealed.

The club claim they informed the British authorities of this conviction and slammed the fact that Aurier has not been "entitled to the presumption of innocence." 

The statement also condemned the decision by the British Ministry of the Interior as an "incomprehensible situation that attacks the very integrity of the UEFA Champions League."

As noted by French football expert Jonathan Johnson, the news comes as a big blow to PSG and their manager, Unai Emery, ahead of the key clash with the Gunners:

Though both sides have already qualified for the knockout stages of the 2016-17 Champions League, the winner of Wednesday's Group A match will be guaranteed top spot, and, theoretically, an easier last-16 draw.

Emery will have been eager to field his strongest possible side, but he has now been deprived of key right-back Aurier.

PSG's statement further denounced the fact that they were only informed of the decision over Aurier on Tuesday, barely 24 hours before kick-off, "despite the club working for the last six days to find a solution to enable our player to travel."

The Ligue 1 champions have more than able cover for Aurier in the shape of Thomas Meunier and will still present Arsenal with a significant challenge in north London.