Arsenal: Turner, Tomiyasu, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney, Sambi, Xhaka, Vieira, Saka, Jesus, Nketiah
Subs: Ramsdale, Hein, White, Partey, Odegaard, Martinelli, Saliba, Cedric, Nelson, Marquinhos, Cirjan, Edwards
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Arsenal secured Europa League knockout football after a 1-0 win over PSV at the Emirates this evening.
Mikel Arteta picked a relatively strong team, starting the likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Granit Xhaka alongside some of the Europa regulars.
The Gunners started with plenty of possession, the visitors seemingly happy to sit in their own half when we had the ball, but attempts on goal were in short supply until the 11th minute.
Kieran Tierney skied one which fell nicely on his left foot, and good work from Jesus presented Xhaka with an opportunity which he didn’t make the most of considering how well he can strike a ball. Jesus dragged one wide from the edge of the box in the 20th minute, and in general it was a cagey affair.
Simons shot over for PSV after we lost the ball in midfield, Vieira almost found Jesus with an excellent pass from deep into their box, and it was another almost moment for the striker when Xhaka’s dummy rolled his way but he was caught slightly on his heels at the decisive moment.
Gabriel almost got on the end of corners from Saka and Vieira, before brilliant work from Saka saw Eddie’s cross for Jesus cut out by some last ditch defending. A foul on Xhaka presented Arsenal with a free kick from outside the box which Vieira curled into the side-netting, and late in the half Xhaka picked up the first booking for a late challenge on Simons.
Neither manager made a change at the break, and Arsenal had the first sight of goal. Jesus and Saka combined, but the striker couldn’t get any power in his close range shot. The roles were reversed when Jesus put Saka through but his poked effort was saved, and the Brazilian powered towards goal before being fouled by Gutierrez who picked up a yellow card in the process.
A fantastic run from Jesus saw him take a shot on goal which the keeper was equal to., a Saka shot was headed out for a corner from which Jesus headed over. PSV made two changes, bringing on two lads for two other lads. Arteta responded by replacing Sambi and Vieira with Martin Odegaard and Thomas Partey.
Simons forced a save from Turner, Jesus didn’t make good contact when the ball fell to him in the box, but in the 71st minute the deadlock was finally broken. Arsenal worked it down the right, Odegaard played it perfectly down the line to Tomiyasu. His clipped ball back into the box fell for Xhaka who swivelled and fired home with his right foot. 1-0.
Saka then had a chance to make it 2-0, forcing a good save from the keeper, before Arteta brought on Ben White and Gabriel Martinelli for Tomiyasu and Jesus. Intricate play around the PSV box provided a chance for Martinelli which the keeper was equal to, and Benitez also saved from Saka who should probably have played in Martinelli at the back post.
Arsenal made a final change, Reiss Nelson replacing Saka in the 85th minute. Odegaard and Tierney picked up yellow cards in the same move as they prevented a PSV break, Eddie had a shot blocked after good work from Martinelli, and in the end the Gunners were decent value for the win.
Remember when Ozil and Sanchez used to get the ball and you’d get excited because you knew something was going to happen? No lie I get the same feeling now when Xhaka gets the ball
He can score with his right foot too…
Dude has turned into a beast of a player. I’m so happy for him.
Not turned, Arteta just found the right role for him. Xhaka’s renaissance under Arteta is for me a strong indicator of Arteta the manager and I love what I’m seeing.
That goal was brilliant. He had to go a bit back, being out of balance and place it in the opposite side of the goal with his weaker foot. That is absolute class.
Watch him in the build up. He’s just standing there basically and everyone just runs away from him and leaves him totally unmarked and boom – Right-footed!? How is this the same guy?!
I’m loving Xhaka playing further forward but that is a stretch!!!
He’s like our new Frank Lampard, who I always thought was a great player. Who would’ve thought.
He’s better than that fat Chelsea fuckwit.
Lardy Frank got lucky with a million and one deflections.
Xhaka’s goals are things of beauty.
Chocolate leg!
We’re top of the group. Sweet strike by Xhaka. Onwards and upwards!
Much deserved win today. 2.63xG to PSV’s 0.32. Would have been nicer to be more lethal in front of goal if we’re being picky, but this team flows together extremely well.
3.3 vs 0.2 according to Scott Willis (the guy behind ‘By the numbers’)
Just for reference, I’m quoting the Fotmob numbers. A lot of people calculate it slightly differently, but it was definitely a dominant performance by all measures today.
This was such an assured performance. I’m in love with this team. Onwards and upwards.
Great Win. In the driving seat for top of the group.
Granit is unleashed.
The Granitssance continues. Proving us haters wrong with every performance. He could end up being our player of the season.
Solid as a rock.
(and I’ll be getting me coat and showing meself the door)
What an 80’s tune that was.
Still waiting for the day when one of those slalom runs from Jesus in the box finally results in a goal. Let’s hope he’s saving it for Stamford Bridge…
Good win. I thought Turner looked pretty good on the ball tonight the few times he had the opportunity to play. Much much better than his first games.
He’s been steadily improving with each passing Europa match. Slowly starting to feel less terrified about the thought of a Ramsdale knock.
Also, he’s actually shot saving ability looks very good. I was worried the first few games but he’s looking like a very good safe pair of hands
True, him ans Holding have improved quite alot. The keepers and backline looks great.
Rubbish game but we got the job done. Excellent finish by Xhaka but overall our final ball and finishing was very poor.
PSV very average after all the hype. We should beat them next week too.
No MOTM: everyone average.
Always fun to get a glimpse of the alternate universe where you are looking at some other game
What would we all do without rays of sunshine in this dark dark world?
Personally I’ll take a dull 1-0 over the slightly fortunate one in Bodø, or the downright terrifying one from Leeds. Much better for the blood pressure
Thought Saka was incredible today
OTT Fats stop hunting the attention.
Man, you should be the next PM.
“Shit country, shit economy, shit fuel bills, shit inflation, shit shit shit.
Now vote for me, Fats, and let’s all have a fucking good wallow.”
Why did Saka play 90 minutes?
*almost 90 minutes. Why did Arteta not take him off after he got injured. He is going to play all of the world cup and is playing every game for us. He needs rest. We can’t afford to play him in Europa league group games
It’s possible that you want a player to run it off and know they’re fine and taken off soon after instead of going off cold with the fear
He didn’t play 90 minutes if I see correctly
My guess is that’s his last game in this competition until the knock out stages
Disappointing performances from Sambi and Vieira in truth; they didn’t quite seem to be at the level. Once Partey and Odegaard came on we were a different beast. A point next Thursday and we too the group with a game to spare.
Wish Sambi would try to turn and go forward more often rather than just passing backwards. He can do it Cus we’ve seen it, it must be a confidence thing
Totally agree and the same goes for Reiss Nelson – of you’ve only been given 7 minutes to impress you have to take a chance and show something! He looks scared to make a mistake.
Yea a DM is really needed. Lokonga should be backup for Xhaka, not Partey. Konrad Laimer, from RbLeipzig, contract will be up next year. Could be a good choice.
Heavily linked to Bayern but yes he should come to us, sit on the bench waiting for those minutes here and there. In truth we will need Elneny to get fit and problem solved
Agreed on Sambi and Viera. But this is the perfect training ground for them.
We don’t do draws, let’s just win instead, we’re good at that.
Deep down, we all know Nketiah and Sambi are unlikely to ever be good enough. Nketiah reminds me of Aliadiere. Sambi of Denilson
Denilson had more end product; a few screamers that nestled in the net once in a while.
Denilson was better than Sambi. Could actually score a goal and pass forward . I do like Nketiah, good back up striker .
Nketiah is stealing a living at Arsenal. 100k a week for him?! Don’t make me laugh!! That misskick in the first half just sums him up. But Arteta seems to love him for some reason.
If Jesus gets injured then we’re stuffed.
In the summer I thought we ought to have sent Sambi out on loan to develop and brought in a new midfielder. Perhaps the injury to Elneny scuppered that.
Not the crushing score-line some thought likely, but we needed to get the points in this first leg, and we did. Arteta will be pleased with that even though we had to use more first choice players.
It was one of those games – and the will be quite a lot over a season – where although we deserve to win we have to grind out the result nevertheless. Only three games left this month.
Honestly, our Team B needs to step up.
They are giving Team A too much work to do.
Glad that we won. Keep the momentum going.
Arsenal yet to disappoint! That was a convincing performance even though the score line begs to differ. Thank you my boys! We move on.
A little surprising that free-scoring PSV played like a Mourinho or Conte team, especially in the first half. A lot of good things for Arsenal: Saka and Xhaka obviously (the latter’s goal probably just shades him over Saka for MOTM), but also Gabriel Jesus’ runs and turns looked like he did earlier in the season–unplayable. The finishing touch hasn’t quite returned, but all the signs are there.
Two things missing in tonight’s game are goals for Saka and Jesus. I hope they get it in Eindhoven.
Didn’t really get going but got the 3 points still. That’s all the matters. Hopefully no injuries too. Love the smile on Xhaka’s face these days. Golden. Saka? What a player! Nketiah and Sambi remain unconvincing. Languid. Too many touches. Overall, not a bad day at the office. Now to So’ton.
The “dreaded” October is almost over and we are still standing. 100% winning rate in Oct when everyone of our enemies thought we are going to collapse.
Well done boys. 3 more wins and we have overcome the October fear.
Bring on Southampton. We can do it.
Tbh it’s November I dread most as an Arsenal fan. After years of bad ones. So glad this time we only get a third of it.
Lokonga needs to do more talking on the pitch. Shocking performance. He jogs around like an old man. No aggressive.
I think a central midfielder needs to want the ball, and I’m not sure if he does
Lokonga and Vieira were both anonymous
Vieira wasn’t at his best but he was still far from anonymous, particularly in the first half where he produced some great passes
Agree, from the way he talks about both club & national opportunities you’d expect him to explode out the blocks but tonight’s performance shows why neither of his managers give him minutes, he doesn’t look close to being ready, gave the ball away 3 or 4 times tonight, positioning wasn’t great and no real forward vision, disappointing.
It’s a win!, well done lads onwards and upwards, moaning…all I will say is pretty or not, another one to the Arse😁
Much, much better performance than the last two, I know being at home certainly helps, but were in full control of the match and really should have had more than one goal. We’ve won 13 out of 14 matches played in the PL and EL including shutout in 3 matches in a row, 4 out of 5 and 5 out of 7 which is showing we are able to win games in a variety of ways especially those nail biting 1-0 matches that our last three have been.
Anyone else secretly enjoying seeing Granit smile so much ? What a star he’s become !
The poster boy of Always believe in yourself. I can relate
We keep whirling and twirling towards freedom (from the group stage)
Credit to their keeper, who made some nice saves. If he was mediocre, we would have scored a couple more.
Does anyone else think that Viera looks like the evil version of himself?
Jesus took two of their defenders, Saka three. The goal is a thing of beauty.
I tell you what, last year I reckon we would have either lost or drawn some of these last 3 games. Well, we haven’t! Maximum points.
Top work lads 😎
We all believe Arteta knows very well what overload can do to the career of a young player. What he doesnt want if for everyone to put in a young man’s ind that he has played too many games, that he is tired and that he will get injured. A young player will believe it and unconsciously use it to excuse any shortcomings.