Arsenal closed out Champions League Group B with a creditable 1-1 draw with PSV Eindhoven.
While nothing was riding on the game, it was entertaining nonetheless with Eddie Nketiah and Yorbe Vertessen trading tidy goals either side of the break. Both teams progress to the knockout stages and their last-16 fate will be decided on Monday.
Here’s what the coaches, players and pundits had to say about an entertaining encounter in Holland.
Mikel Arteta on Arsenal’s group stage campaign…
I think overall very positive, after six or seven years without being in the competition with a team that doesn’t have a lot of experience I think we have competed very, very well. I really like the approach of the team in every single game, the way we try to play and dominate the opponents, we have some big results and big experiences as well.
Source: Post-game press conference
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Peter Bosz on making changes and his players stepping up…
Van Aanholt played his first official game in midfield. In addition, a number of boys returned from injuries. They have all completed it very well. I think the crowd is entertained today. I recently said that this is the best team I have worked with. This is why: everyone is there when they have to be and gives it their all for ninety minutes.
Source: PSV.nl
First time two English players have combined for a CL goal for #Arsenal since Calum Chambers set up Kieran Gibbs against Anderlecht in October 2014
— Tom Ede (@TomEde1) December 12, 2023
Eddie Nketiah on things being nice…
Every kid dreams of playing and scoring in the Champions League, so that was really nice. Obviously, we’re disappointed not to get the three points, but you know, it’s nice to get out there and get some minutes and obviously, a goal is always nice.
Source: TNT Sports
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PSV goalscorer Yorbe Vertessen on the match…
We have created a lot, but you can’t complain if you draw against Arsenal. I have a good feeling about it. Especially considering that I have once again rewarded the trust in me with a goal.
Source: PSV.nl
Ex-PSV man Zinchenko offers his shirt to a fan 🤗#UCL pic.twitter.com/hnNyTcCeWn
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 12, 2023
Reiss Nelson on his performance…
I enjoyed it, I haven’t played for a long time so it’s always good to get on the pitch, everyone trusts me in that position. There was a lot of space in the midfield so I was roaming about, but the main was that I had a smile on my face when I was playing. The motivation is always there, the manager made that clear from day one. No matter who we’re playing, he always gets us ready. I think we showed that through our determination and our work ethic from minute one.
Source: Uefa.com
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Peter Bosz on his former player Kai Havertz…
You don’t need to be a scientist in football to see this was a big, big talent. Absolutely. He is really a modest guy…an outstanding, outstanding player.
Source: Post-game press conference (via Sam Dean)
Onto the next round! 🆑 pic.twitter.com/yaCZr5MgjJ
— Leandro Trossard (@LTrossard) December 12, 2023
Mikel Arteta on Smith Rowe returning…
It was great and I think it was good minutes for him as well against a really tough opponent and hopefully, something good is coming up.
Source: TNT Sports
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Eddie Nketiah on the trio of academy youngsters who travelled…
They’re all talented players in their own ways. We’ve got some really, really good players and they all deserve to be here through the hard work that they’ve put in. We’re disappointed obviously they couldn’t get some action today but there’ll be plenty of opportunities for them if they keep working hard and putting their head down. Obviously coming from a similar position, I know what it’s like to be in and around it [the first team] so I think it’s good that they’re here, and they get these experiences, and then it gives them motivation to keep working hard to get more opportunities.
Source: TNT Sports
Good to see you back out there, Emile ❤️ pic.twitter.com/JAEQurwVj9
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 12, 2023
Mikel Arteta on his fringe players…
We had a few with red flags that we had to really rest today. It was a good opportunity for some of them. It’s a shame for Mo [Elneny] because he felt something. Reiss as well. But it’s the guys that have played less minutes, Cedric as well and they deserve to play.
Source: TNT Sports
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Man of the match Ismael Saibari…
It was a good game. We put in a great effort, created a lot of chances especially if you compare this to the first match [against Arsenal]. The only thing we didn’t do is score more goals. I think we could have got more, but 1-1 is also good.
Source: Uefa.com
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Michael Owen on the match…
I thought there were two good teams on show. It was an enjoyable game. Arsenal have been the dominant team in this group and deservedly go through top of the group.
Source: TNT Sports
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I don’t get why everyone is crying that the kids didn’t get a game. We haven’t been in the champions league for 5 years; those minutes are precious and need to be earned. Saka looked disappointed to be rested; you wanna win the Ballon D’or- you need to boost your stats even in a dead rubber like this
Sorry but te minutes in this particular game were not precious, and if they hadn’t earned them they shouldn’t be in the squad. Nwaneri scored 5 goals the other day for the u18’s, give him at least 20mins to see what he can do! Who cares if we lose a pointless game?
It’s £2.5m earned for the club per win in the CL group stages – so not a dead rubber. And also it’s probably better to give minutes to players who we’ll need in the next round and in the PL, than to kids who probably won’t need to be called upon any time soon. The experience will have done them good.
I broadly agree with this, however big clubs without infinite resources have to find time to blood these players. See Liverpool with Elliot, Bajcetic, etc. Both have played relatively small number of games, but would undoubtedly both sell for great fees right now. There really is limited excuse to have not played one in this game.
Arteta knows what Nwaneri can do. He coaches him weekly in training.
Arteta cares if we lose a game, as do all of the players. If games become disposable, pointless, at any point in the season, then everything else can be devalued as well. That’s the not the culture or belief system that wins things.
No you’re right it’s not pointless, because the point of this game was to give players a chance who don’t get one normally. That’s the only point it had. All the rest of your reasoning is just hyperbolic slogans, sounds nice when you say it but wouldn’t sound so nice if we lost Saliba again to injury for 2 months. Players are intelligent enough to value the games which already inherently have value, and to see this game as a perfect opportunity to try to win *while* giving youngsters an opportunity and the regulars a well earned rest.
The point of the game was to win it. That’s the point of every game we play. The hope was to do it with 8 changes to the starting lineup, a considerable rotation. Had we been winning the game 3-nil in the 70th minute then I absolutely think the youngest players would have gotten on the pitch. But we didn’t.
Fans will, I hope, catch up this year with what Arteta is doing and share in the mentality and culture of winning. He really does know what he’s doing, despite what you think.
I also look back to some of the quotes from Wenger in the past – if we throw in too much change and get blown out in this match, what does that do to the psychology of the players that blew it? The quickest way to ruin a young talent (aside from injury) is to put them in way over their head and get their confidence trounced. 5 goals for u18 is not a match against a team like PSV whose only loss of the entire season (15-0-0 in Eredivisie) was us at full strength. We also have peripheral first… Read more »
Go look at the Bayern lineup from last night my friend.
Bayern already secured top spot in their group and played a full strength team against a second tier side. Real played big parts of their first 11, besides being through already. No fan of these clubs is complaining about it. Because that‘s what top clubs do.
But some Arsenal fans of course know better than Arteta, Tuchel and Ancelotti. It‘s stunning how dudes always find reasons to complain about some completely irrelevant sh*t.
You would have been the first here to cry about ‘reckless Arteta’.
What? Have I ever “cried” about something like that? I’m guessing from that you don’t know me at all and are just trying to pick an argument with a random person on the internet, hope it was worth it
Ten Haag played his youngsters in the last 10 minutes against Bayern and they all heard the Aufwiederseen chants from the German fans. I prefer the situation of our club and the choices of our manager.
I woke up tire and groggy this morning. Then I saw the CL standings in their group. A laughing fit is great adrenaline!
More to your point, yes a giant dick move. Pretty sure the bench heard clearly how useless they are.
for all the talk about not playing the youngsters, i do think cedric deserved to play. and for a man that has never played badly for us, i don’t think he’s deserved to be our 8th option at right back. because that’s what it looked like at one point, and even have the youngsters surpass you on the one ocassion you can play must be very hurtful for a professional player. so im glad that he played and did well, might be the last time we ever see him in an arsenal shirt…
This has to be satire
On a human level, I completely agree the post above. Cedric has been nothing but professional for the club. His salary was prohibitive of a move to a club that better represents his level, or he would be playing elsewhere. I for one have absolutely no ill will towards him.
Get in there Cedric
Declan Rice at centre back. I’m pretty sure we could walk the league and CL too if we had 11 Declan Rice, one in each position and 5 more on the bench of course.
Add a Saka an Odegaard and a Martinelli and I agree
I’d be tempted to throw in 1 Ben White just for the skullduggery. I must be entertained.
I just figured out how much 16 Declan Rice would cost. Its actually more than Man Utd have spent to be as good as they are.
So, the cost of being better? 🙂
It is interesting that Paulihna at Fulham has been rumoured to be of interest and in the very next game MA experiments with Rice at centerback. Surely just a coincidence?
I wonder how many points he has already won the club. Besides the obvious 4 points for the late goals at Luton and against Man United, I’d say he’s personally responsible for at least another 7-8 because of how he allows us to play and his elilte defending. In the worst case counterfactual where Rice signs for Man City and we don’t sign another midfielder, we would have been riding with a Jorginho-ElNeny rotation at the base of midfield. We saw in this game what that looks like against decent opposition. I don’t mean to be harsh on Mo because… Read more »
Dicky Owen😂
We all love Elneny but I think it’s time to bring in someone who can be a solid replacement if Rice needs a rest. Unfortunately I don’t see Partey in or long term plans. I think Ramsdale had a good game and when he was getting treatment on the pitch it made me realize the importance of having two good goalkeepers incase one gets a long term injury. Cedric is not as bad as ppl make him out to be. He is not perfect, but he gives 100% everytime and can also cover left back in an emergency.
I wonder has anyone gotten tired of laughing at Man U? I might be there soon
I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of laughing at Ch*lsea though
Looking at their upcoming schedule I think Ten Hag will be most likely sacked after the Villa game or the Forest game if they fail to get 3 points.
Let’s brace ourselves for PSG, Inter, or Napoli.
We will get Copenhagen.
High probability of our away fans enjoying some top-class pasta
I find the fact that Cedric posts on Instagram somewhat ironic.