A much-changed Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw at PSV Eindhoven in their final match of the Champions League group stage.
Both teams had already guaranteed a spot in the round of sixteen, so the pressure was off, especially since Arsenal in particular didn’t seem to have much of a competitive bite at the Philips Stadion.
In the Eredivisie this season, PSV has been unstoppable, winning all 15 of their games and building a 10-point lead over nearest rival Feyenoord.
And the Dutch team had the better start, with a deft move down the right slicing open the Gunners’ defence, only for Ricardo Pepi, the striker, to somehow manage to miss from close range.
Eight changes were made by Arsenal manager Mikael Arteta from the team that was defeated 1-0 by Aston Villa in the Premier League over the weekend, and the Gunners lacked penetration up front and organisation in the back.
With some deft playmaking, PSV created multiple first-half opportunities, and Yorbe Vertessen, a striker for Belgium, beat Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale with a fine header that struck the post.
After almost thirty minutes, Mohamed Elneny, an Egyptian international defender, had Arsenal’s first real opportunity, but his speculative shot zipped just wide of the post.
However, the London team took the lead shortly before halftime when Eddie Nketiah, a striker, was allowed too much room in the box and scored low into the corner.
Arsenal wins 1-0, which is against the flow of the game.
PSV has only lost once this season, to Arsenal, who destroyed them 4-0 at the Emirates Stadium in the rematch. PSV has scored an amazing 52 goals in domestic competition.
Less than five minutes into the second half, Vertessen skillfully curled his shot past Ramsdale after another through-ball split the Arsenal midfield. This put them back on level terms.
The hosts persisted in their confident ball movement, and Ramsdale’s fingertip save of Moroccan international Ismael Saibari kept his team in the contest.
Jakub Kiwior’s strong header on minute 82 was disallowed for offside, depriving the Gunners of what would have been an unfair victory.
And PSV wasted a glorious opportunity to win it at the last second when Guus Til failed to convert a one-on-one with the custodian.
Despite their persistent aggressive play, neither team would have been overly dissatisfied with a dead-rubber draw that sent them both to the round of 16.
Photo by EPA/MAURICE VAN STEEN
