PSV Eindhoven 1-1 Arsenal: The Gunners a lot and qualified for the Champions League draw

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Arsenal, much changed, drew against PSV Eindhoven in their last match of the Champions League organisational phase.

The Gunners had already won Group B and manager Mikel Arteta made eight changes from the weekend’s Premier League loss at Aston Villa.

This led to a disjointed performance, Arsenal taking the lead through Eddie Nketiah after 42 minutes.

But PSV got a well-deserved point thanks to Yorbe Vertessen’s equaliser.

Nketiah put Arsenal ahead three minutes from the end of a first half in which they suffered a lot of pressure from PSV, who had also already qualified for the round of 16 as second in the group.

It was a very good finish from the England striker, controlling a low ball from the right before firing into the back right corner from the edge of the box.

But Arsenal were relegated five minutes after the break thanks to Vertessen’s right-footed shot that hit the left post.

Both sides had good chances to find a second-half winner. Ismael Saibari hit the near post before Guus Til shot across the face of goal late on.

Arsenal had the ball in the net, with Jakub Kiwior heading home after beating PSV goalkeeper Walter Benitez with a free-kick, but he was sent off for offside against Gabriel.

Nketiah denied the one-on-one through Benitez in the 6th minute of stoppage time, before Leandro Trossard fired home the rebound.

Arsenal close the qualifying phase with thirteen ties in six games (four ahead of PSV) and will face one of the other seven finalists in the knockout stages.

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While Arsenal were safe, Arteta made the changes, with William Saliba, Gabriel and Kai Havertz retaining their starting spots in the XI.

This would possibly have played a role in their slow start, as PSV were much livelier in the early stages.

The Dutch side’s only defeat this season was the 4-0 loss at Emirates Stadium, and they played with freedom and confidence here.

Aaron Ramsdale – one of the eight Arsenal changes in his Champions League debut – saved well from Saibari before USA striker Ricardo Pepi struck the post with a header.

Arsenal held on and took the lead in Nketiah, in a well-deserved response to the complaint about his position as a striker at Champions League level.

But his sad recent history in the Netherlands lives on. Arsenal have failed to win in their last four European visits to the Netherlands since a 2-1 Champions League win over Ajax in September 2005.

Arteta was obviously not satisfied with the performance, with Ben White, Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice replaced in the second half.

He named three academy teenagers on the bench (Lino Sousa, Reuell Walters and Ethan Nwaneri), but opted to give them time to play.

Emile Smith Rowe arrived late when the winger made his first appearance since October with a knee injury.

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