PSV failed to get the point they had hoped for from their Europa League catch-up game at Arsenal – a game previously canceled due to the death of Queen Elizabeth. Although Eindhoven held their ground for a long time at the Emirates Stadium, they surrendered 1-0 with twenty minutes to go thanks to a goal by Granit Xhaka.

This means that Arsenal are already certain of a European winter in Group A with twelve points. PSV can still deny the London formation a group win but then face the same opponents at home next week.

A stroke of luck on Eindhoven’s side was the return from long injuries of Luuk de Jong and Noni Madueke, who were able to save minutes in the second half as a substitute in the main team.

No adjustments

PSV was of course skeptical about the top form the Premier League leaders (27 points from 10 games) have been in for weeks, but that was no reason for coach Ruud van Nistelrooij to make major adjustments and, for example, with an additional – fifth – defender.

On the contrary, he stayed with the same team that overran FC Utrecht 6-1 last Sunday. The Eindhoveners therefore started with Guus Til, good for the 2:1 and 3:1 against Utrecht and the title “Man of the Match”, in the striker. He continued to be favored over Luuk de Jong, who was back on the bench after his long-term injury.

Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta had changed his team significantly compared to the last game (1-0 win at Leeds United). Only Xhaka, Gabriel Magalhães, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus were allowed to reappear, but missing from the reel were designer Martin Ødegaard (ex-Heerenveen et – Vitesse) and fast, agile wing attacker Gabriel Martinelli, among others.

fast work

Despite all the changes, Arsenal, who started the Europa League with three wins, immediately took matters into their own hands. Because the sooner the job was done in this crowded football year, the better. Before the first fifteen minutes were played, Kieran Tierney aimed a little too high and Xhaka’s slider rolled wide. Jesus was placed in position twice but could not complete it.

In a rare Eindhoven breakout midway through the first half, Xavi Simons lifted the ball over Matt Turner’s goal after a substantial rush. However, Arsenal remained the dominant party, albeit without creating any great chances. This was thanks in part to PSV defender André Ramalho, who was able to fend off London’s threat on several occasions.

Nice combination

Just after the break, Jesus got no further than a roller after a nice combination with Saka, where Walter Benítez had no problem, but moments later the PSV keeper had to pull out all the stops to stop the ailing Saka from scoring . In between, Simons couldn’t get the ball right after a quick Eindhoven counterattack.

After an hour, the industrious Jesus outsmarted a few PSV players, but the match-growing Benítez was not one of them. After a flaming shot from Eddie Nketiah went over the PSV goal, Arteta felt the time was right to bring in Ødegaard, who immediately took over as Xhaka’s captain.

Madueke joined PSV after months of injury – he played his last game on July 1st. He immediately put Xavi to work but his shot went to Turner. At the other end, Benítez, in turn, had to bow to Xhaka’s half-volley after an attack prepared by Ødegaard: 1-0.

Van Nistelrooij did not want to accept the way things were going and brought fresh offensive power with De Jong after another absence of a few weeks. Another substitute was closer to goal and on the other side of the field, however, but Gabriel Martinelli too noted Benitez was not easily outwitted that night at the Emirates Stadium.

Shortly thereafter, Jordan Teze missed the calm to play De Jong to measure, missing an excellent opportunity for PSV to make something of the visit to London.