A 1-1 draw in Eindhoven is all Arsenal could manage, with their last win in the Netherlands coming all the way back in 2005. Eddie Nketiah scored his first Champions League goal of his career, with Arteta naming three players aged 30+ in his starting XI for the first time since March 2022.
Mikel made eight changes to the starting XI from Saturday’s defeat to Villa, with Aaron Ramsdale starting his first Champions League game in his career. Jorghino captained the side and played alongside Elneny as the midfield pivot.
The first 35 minutes were all PSV, and Arsenal’s defensive duo, Saliba and Gabriel, made two goal-saving blocks in quick succession to keep the score level.
Nelson was Arsenal’s brightest player in the first half, continuously looking to make something happen. In the 42nd minute, his hard work paid off.
Nelson played a one-two with Cedric on the right flank and laid Nketiah off, who took one touch and finished it with his weaker foot. It was a sensational finish by the Arsenal striker, and it gave the Gunners a 1-0 lead going into half-time.
Five minutes into the second half, Vertessen scored for PSV with a neat finish, passing Rasmdale, hitting the post, and going in. From an Arsenal perspective, the goal could have been heavily avoided; Vertessen had the whole of Eindhoven to run into!
Mikel Arteta brought Rice, White, and Odegaard on to try and retain the ball and take control of possession. Arsenal fans were unhappy with seeing the big names come on, considering the Gunners have already cemented themselves in first place.
In the 81st minute, Arsenal thought they had scored the winner, with Kiwior getting on the end of an Odegaard free kick.
However, the linesman had his flag up for offside, and the goal went to VAR. It was deemed Gabriel was standing in an offside position from the initial cross and interfered with the play, resulting in the goal not standing.
Trossard should have done better in the 97th minute when he skipped past the PSV defender and hammered the ball straight at the goalkeeper. Nketiah was furious that he didn’t receive the ball, which would have been a simple tap-in for the striker.
Arsenal fans will claim tonight was a good night, with no first-team players getting injured and a respectable draw against a team that has been undefeated at home this season in the Champions League.
The attention now turns to Sunday, when Arsenal take on Brighton at the Emirates Stadium, as they look to return to winning ways.