LONDON — Arsenal beat PSV Eindhoven, 1-0, on Thursday and stayed good of their Europa League quest, persevering with their good kind that has them prime of the Premier League.
– Report: Arsenal vs. PSV | Europa League table | Upcoming fixtures
Though the match stayed deadlocked a lot of the night time as Arsenal did not put away probabilities, Granit Xhaka scored the game-winner within the seventieth minute.
ESPN’s Connor O’Halloran has response and evaluation from Emirates Stadium.
JUMP TO: Player ratings | Best/worst performers | Highlights and notable moments | Postmatch quotes | Key stats | Upcoming fixtures
Fast response
1. Arsenal poised to win Europa League group
Arsenal‘s final defeat in any competitors got here towards Manchester United on Sept. 4. The truth is, it is the one recreation they have not gained all season.
The great instances are right here within the purple half of north London: they’ve achieved their best-ever begin to a Premier League season after 10 video games, and stay flawless within the Europa League with 4 wins from 4, clinching a spot within the knockout spherical with two group video games to spare.
As such, they’re 5 factors away from PSV and inside inches of profitable the group, bypassing the primary knockout spherical — that are squeezed days after the group stage finish on Nov. 7.
Dropping factors towards PSV on Thursday would have been a hazard — not simply because they’d face the specter of coming second and staring down Champions League opposition, however it will additionally imply two extra video games in a season sandwiched both facet of the World Cup. To show severe title contenders to Manchester City, Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta’s facet should keep away from enjoying an additional recreation, and towards PSV they ensured simply that.
2. Turner’s reps earlier than World Cup do little to spice up inventory
U.S. males’s nationwide crew goalkeeper Matt Turner performs second fiddle at Arsenal to starter Aaron Ramsdale, who he’ll meet when the U.S. face Group B foes England on the World Cup in Qatar. In a pre-match information convention, Turner described his transfer to from the New England Revolution to Arsenal this summer time as a “essential danger.”
“It was a danger to go from being a shoo-in starter to a spot the place I wasn’t assured to be an everyday starter, however it felt like a essential danger that I needed to take,” Turner mentioned.
It means he should take his probabilities and maximise his reps once they arrive, and this season they’ve come within the Europa League. He put in an impressive efficiency final outing towards Bodo/Glimt, the principle cause Arsenal escaped with a slim win. However the pair of Europa League clashes with PSV, clearly second-best crew in Group A, characterize his greatest probabilities to spice up confidence and achieve reps earlier than the bedlam of Qatar kicks off.
But, he had little to do on this one, and it was a missed alternative for the goalkeeper who’s the favorite underneath Gregg Berhalter to start out for the U.S. forward of Zack Steffen. Accidents allowing, Turner will doubtless have yet another run out within the reverse fixture within the Netherlands.
Turner could have lacked reps, however he knew that when he joined Arsenal. He should now hope he’s prepared for Qatar.
3. Arsenal hold discovering a means, however look toothless
Arsenal dominated each halves on Thursday with PSV barely having fun with a kick as Arteta’s facet remained in fixed management — 62% possession and 25 photographs reveals as a lot.
What they largely did not do was discover a remaining move: Kieran Tierney blazed an opportunity within the opening minutes, adopted shortly by a lacklustre effort from Granit Xhaka. Gabriel Jesus fluffed a good likelihood as he discovered house between two defenders. Bukayo Saka missed a one-on-one early within the second half.
Extra waves of possession went with out punishment earlier than Xhaka lastly broke the impasse with a fantastically taken half-volley on 70 minutes, however it ought to have been extra. Even after that, a few excellent saves from PSV goalkeeper Walter Benitez meant the lead stayed at one.
There may be little to fret about at Arsenal proper now, however three successive outings with solely a purpose to indicate for his or her troubles will not thrill Arteta. Three wins would possibly, although.
Participant scores
Arsenal: Turner 6; Tomiyasu 7, Holding 7, Gabriel 7, Tierney 7; Lokonga 6, Xhaka 8, Vieira 6; Saka 7, Jesus 8, Nketiah 6
Subs: Partey 6, Odegaard 6, White N/A, Martinelli N/A, Nelson N/A
PSV: Benitez 8, Mwene 6, Ramalho 7, Obispo 6, Max 6, Gutierrez 6, Sangare 6, Simons 5, Veerman 5, Gakpo 5, Til 5
Subs: Madueke 6, Teze 5, De Jong N/A, Ledezma N/A
Greatest and worst performers
BEST: Granit Xhaka, Arsenal
Regarded assured on the ball all night time, spraying passes and shifting into the ultimate third, and his purpose earned Arsenal one other slim win as he continues his revival underneath Arteta.
WORST: Cody Gakpo, PSV
Gakpo earned the curiosity of Manchester United final summer time, however he did little to showcase that expertise on Thursday as he was largely marked out of the sport by Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Highlights and notable moments
Arsenal dominated however could not make good on their probabilities, with the primary half coming and going with no purpose.
Arsenal had a few huge alternatives within the 54th minute, however PSV goalkeeper Walter Benitez denied Granit Xhaka and scooped up a missed likelihood from Gabriel Jesus.
An enormous save from Walter Benítez to maintain the rating degree.
pic.twitter.com/uHZdh5hrcA
— CBS Sports activities Golazo
(@CBSSportsGolazo) October 20, 2022
Arsenal finally discovered their breakthrough, nonetheless, with a superb one-time strike from Xhaka, who swiveled round and positioned his shot effectively out of Benitez’s attain.
The purpose was a magnificence.
A rejuvenated Granit Xhaka!
Take heed to the poetry from @RayHudson.
pic.twitter.com/7jVtn5R8bI
— CBS Sports activities Golazo
After the match: What the gamers and managers mentioned
Examine again shortly…
Key stats
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Granit Xhaka has scored as many targets this season, three, as in his earlier three seasons mixed. His purpose towards PSV was the primary of his 17 for Arsenal to not be scored together with his left foot.
Up subsequent
Arsenal: The Gunners head to Southampton for Premier League motion on Sunday at 9 a.m. ET. Then they head to the Netherlands for the return leg of this Europa League tie, dealing with PSV once more on Thursday, Oct. 27 at 12:45 p.m. ET.
PSV Eindhoven: PSV return to Eredivisie motion once they head to FC Groningen on Sunday at 8:30 a.m. ET. Then, they host Arsenal for the return leg of this Europa League tie on Thursday, Oct. 27 at 12:45 p.m. ET.
