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The much-changed Arsenal side were lucky to leave the Netherlands with a 1-1 draw in the Champions League draw against PSV Eindhoven.
A goal from both sides of the match saw the top two in Group B take the spoils, as Eddie Nketiah’s first Champions League goal was canceled out thanks to a clever finish from Yorbe Vertessen in the equaliser.
Manager Mikel Arteta said on the eve of the game that, whoever represented Arsenal had a “duty” to win – but his unfamiliar XI were second-best for much of the night.
In the 16-year-olds of the #UCL ✊ pic. twitter. com/Yhf7ZQEfDq
– Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 12, 2023
Arsenal had already secured top spot in Group B, with PSV guaranteed to qualify alongside them, with the Gunners making eight changes from the five changes made by the hosts.
Despite the announced adjustments, Arteta named first-choice centre-back duo William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes and the duo were on hand to prevent PSV from taking an early lead.
A good ball from Malik Tillman went through Johan Bakayoko, who replaced Ricardo Pepi, only for Saliba to mix in and call on goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale to stop a shot, with Gabriel brilliantly blocking Patrick van Aanholt’s next attempt.
Arsenal’s defence struggled to prevent the hosts from breaking their goal, even in the presence of Saliba and Gabriel, and Vertessen hit the post with a header after 19 minutes.
Bakayoko was the next to see Ramsdale dive deep, but his long-range shot narrowly missed the post.
Arsenal smashed the ball just before the 30th minute when Mohamed Elneny unleashed a long-range shot that hit the base of a post before a well-worked PSV counter-attack ended with Saliba blocking Pepi’s shot.
Eddie’s first goal in the Champions League ✅ #UCL pic. twitter. com/oKhEYhLuVh
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) December 12, 2023
Arteta’s side had begun life back in the Champions League after a seven-year absence by easing to victory over PSV at the Emirates in September and, despite this rotated line-up, they would strike first once more.
Nketiah broke the deadlock three minutes before the break with his first proper sight of goal, angling a low drive through the legs of PSV skipper Andre Ramalho and in off the inside of a post.
Ramsdale deflected Bakayoko’s shot off the post to give Arsenal the lead at half-time, despite the hosts dominating for much of the first half.
Vertessen shot wide shortly after the restart, but moments later he rightly equalised, this time Saliba was out of position as he dived for an interception and the Belgian beat Ramsdale.
Three Boss Settings. . .
↩️? @ElNennY Martin Odegaard
↩️? @OficialCedric @_DeclanRice
↩️William Saliba ? @ben6white
? 1-1 ? (62) pic. twitter. com/25j2P7TqW8
– Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 12, 2023
Arteta made three adjustments shortly after the hour, adding one imposed when Elneny left with what appeared to be a thigh problem, with captain Martin Odegaard in his place, joining Declan Rice and Ben White on the bench.
Rice went in at centre-back in place of Saliba but was almost caught out minutes later, Ismael Saibari getting the better of the club-record signing before striking a post with Ramsdale beaten.
Jakub Kiwior headed in Odegaard’s free-kick with 10 minutes remaining, but the goal was disallowed for offside in front of his compatriot Gabriel, who had also attacked the ball.
Not for the first time, Gabriel completely failed to deal with a simple forward ball, leaving Guus Til to burst through and fire wide late on as the tie finished all-square.
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