The much-changed Arsenal side were fortunate to leave Holland with a 1-1 draw in their Champions League tie against PSV Eindhoven.
A goal from both sides of the game saw the top two in Group B take the spoils as Eddie Nketiah’s first Champions League goal was disallowed 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.
Arsenal had already secured top spot in Group B, with PSV assured of qualifying alongside them, and the Gunners showed eight changes to the five alterations 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 fine ball from Malik Tillman played in Johan Bakayoko, who squared for Ricardo Pepi – only for a combination of Saliba and recalled goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale to stop a shot, with Gabriel brilliantly blocking the follow-up effort from Patrick van Aanholt.
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 have Ramsdale diving at full-stretch but his shot from distance flashed just wide of a 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.
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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 opened the scoring three minutes before half-time with his first real goal, with a low shot between the legs of PSV captain André Ramalho and off the post.
Ramsdale turned a Bakayoko shot around a post to send Arsenal in ahead at the interval, even though the hosts had dominated for much of the first half.
Vertessen shot wide shortly after the restart but moments later rightly equalized, this time Saliba was out of position diving for an interception and the Belgian beat Ramsdale.
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 came into centre defence in place of Saliba, but almost stalled a few minutes later, with Ismael Saibari getting the club’s record biggest signing before hitting a post with Ramsdale beaten.
Jakub Kiwior headed in Odegaard’s free-kick 10 minutes from time, but the goal was disallowed for offside in front of his compatriot Gabriel, who had also attacked the ball.
It wasn’t the first time Gabriel failed to manage an undeniable ball forward, allowing Guus Til to burst in and shoot wide as the tie ended in a draw.
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