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Thiago Silva returns but Hatem Ben Arfa not in PSG squad vs. Arsenal

Paris Saint-Germain will have captain Thiago Silva available for their Champions League opener against Arsenal on Tuesday, but attacker Hatem Ben Arfa is not in the 18-man squad.

In-form left back Layvin Kurzawa will miss out after picking up a thigh strain, while coach Unai Emery appears to have omitted the temperamental Ben Arfa.

The official reason behind Ben Arfa's absence is not known, but Le Parisien reported it was a tactical decision from Emery -- so Ben Arfa was dropped -- after some recent below par performances from the summer signing.

Silva is back in contention for a place in the starting XI or on the bench for the first time this campaign after recovering from a hip injury sustained during preseason.

Right-back Serge Aurier has shaken off a sprained ankle suffered in the 3-1 defeat away at Monaco, while playmaker Javier Pastore has overcome a calf problem which kept him out of the most recent international fixtures with Argentina.

Versatile attacker Jese Rodriguez and veteran left-back Maxwell are also both included after the Spaniard was seen hobbling following last Friday's 1-1 draw at home with St Etienne in Ligue 1 and the Brazilian missed the match with a slight knock.

Maxwell is expected to replace Kurzawa on the left side of the defence after the injured Frenchman was unable to recover.