LONDON — Arsenal beat PSV Eindhoven, 1-0 on Thursday and continued flawlessly in their Europa League quest, continuing the fine form that kept them top of the Premier League.
– Report: Arsenal vs. PSV | Europa League table | Upcoming furniture
Although the match was quite deadlocked at night as Arsenal could not create any chances, Granit Xhaka scored the decisive goal in the 70th minute.
ESPN’s Connor O’Halloran had a reaction and analysis from the Emirates Stadium team.
CLICK: Player Rating | Best/worst actor | Outstanding and remarkable moments | Quote postmatch | Key stats | Upcoming furniture
Rapid response
1. Arsenal ready to win Europa League
ArsenalThe ultimate failure of any competition is against Manchester United on September 4. In fact, it was the only game they didn’t win all season.
Good times are here in the red half north of London: they have enjoyed their best-ever start to a Premier League season after 10 games, and are still perfect in the Europa League with four wins. From four, win a spot in the knockout round with two group games to spare.
As such, they are five points ahead of PSV and narrowly win the title, making it through to the first knockout round – a tight tie a few days after the group stage ended on November 7.
Losing points against PSV on Thursday would be a danger – not only because they will face the threat of second and staring Champions League rivals, but it also means two more games. in an alternating season on either side of the World Cup. To prove serious title candidates City of ManchesterArsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s side had to avoid playing one more game, and against PSV they ensured it.
2. Turner’s agents before the World Cup did nothing to raise the stock
United States men’s national team goalkeeper Matt Turner play the second game at Arsenal to begin Aaron Ramsdalewhom he will meet when the United States faces its enemy England at the World Cup in Qatar. In a pre-match press conference, Turner described his move coming from New England Revolution to Arsenal this summer as a “necessary risk.”
“It was a risk going from a newcomer to the competition to a place where I wasn’t guaranteed to be a regular starter, but it felt like a necessary risk that I had to take,” said Turner. speak.
It means he has to take his chances and maximize his rep when they come, and this season they have reached the Europa League. He had an excellent performance last time in the match against Bodo/Glimt, the main reason why Arsenal came out with a narrow win. But the Europa League tie against PSV, clearly group A runners-up, is his best chance to boost his confidence and gain representation before the match against Qatar kicks off.
However, he had little action in this game, and it was a missed opportunity for the favorite goalkeeper under Gregg Berhalter to start for the United States first. Zack Steffen. Injury allows, Turner may have to run again in the opposite match in Netherlands.
Turner may lack representation, but he knew it when he joined Arsenal. Now he has to hope he is ready for Qatar.
3. Arsenal continues to find their way, but looks toothless
Arsenal dominated both halves on Thursday with PSV barely enjoying a kick as Arteta’s side remained in constant control – 62% of possession and 25 shots showed plenty.
What they barely managed to do was find a final pass: Kieran Tierney opportunistic in the first few minutes, followed by a faint effort from Granite Xhaka. Gabriel Jesus created a good chance as he found space between the two defenders. Bukayo Saka missed one on one early in the second half.
More unpunished possession of the ball before Xhaka finally broke the deadlock with a fine volley in the 70th minute, but it should have been more. Even then there were some excellent saves by the PSV . keeper Walter Benitez which means the potential customer remains at one.
There’s nothing to worry about at Arsenal right now, but three consecutive opening matches with only one goal to solve their troubles won’t thrill Arteta. Three wins are possible, though.
Player Rating
Arsenal: Camcorder 6; Tomiyasu 7, Grip 7, Gabriel 7, Rank 7; Lokonga 6, Xhaka 8, Vieira 6; Saka 7, Jesus 8, Nketiah 6
Register: 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
Register: Madueke 6, Teze 5, De Jong N / A, Ledezma N / A
Best and worst performers
BEST: Granite Xhaka, Arsenal
Looking confident with the ball all night, unleashed passes and advanced into the final third, and his goal gave Arsenal another close victory as he continued his resurgence under Arteta.
WORKS: Cody Gakpo, PSV
Gakpo received interest from Manchester United last summer, but he failed to showcase that talent on Thursday as he was largely left out of the game by Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Outstanding and remarkable moments
Arsenal dominated but could not make good use of their opportunities, the first half went without goals.
Arsenal had a couple of big chances in the 54th minute, but PSV goalkeeper Walter Benitez turned down Granit Xhaka and took a chance from Gabriel Jesus.
A brilliant save by Walter Benítez kept the score in the game. pic.twitter.com/uHZdh5hrcA
– CBS Sports Golazo ️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) October 20, 2022
However, Arsenal finally found a breakthrough with a brilliant strike from Xhaka, who turned and shot just out of Benitez’s reach.
The goal is a beauty.
A rejuvenating Granite Xhaka!
Listen to poetry from @RayHudson. pic.twitter.com/7jVtn5R8bI
– CBS Sports Golazo ️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) October 20, 2022
After the game: What the players and managers say
Arteta on Xhaka, almost three years since he was infamously booed: “He deserves it – I think he’s faced adversity, and in difficult moments, he’s raised his hand when he has something else to do. Moral is worth it. him, the way he is a person, the way he treats the people around him and his love for the football club and the profession is unquestionable, and I think he absolutely deserve it.”
Arteta on Saka plays game after game: “Look at the top players in the world. They play 70 games, play every three days, make the difference and win the game. You want to be at the top, you have to be able to do that, and if we start to put something else in the minds of our young players then it is a big mistake… I want it to be cruel in three days they will knock on my door [saying] ‘I want to play.'”
PSV coach Ruud van Nistelrooy on Arsenal’s dominance: “In the first half, we didn’t play at all, we just defended and survived, which we did and kept a clean sheet in the first half. We had some moments where we created one. or two chances but that’s still not enough.”
Key stats
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Granit Xhaka has scored as many goals this season, three, as in his previous three seasons combined. His goal against PSV was the first of his 17 goals for Arsenal that were not scored with his left foot.
Next
Arsenal: The Gunners head to Southampton for a Premier League game on Sunday at 9am ET. They then head to the Netherlands for the second leg of this Europa League tie, facing PSV again on Thursday, October 27 at 12:45 p.m. ET.
PSV Eindhoven: PSV returns to the Eredivisie when they head to FC Groningen on Sunday at 8:30 a.m. ET. They then host Arsenal in the second leg of this Europa League tie on Thursday, October 27 at 12:45pm ET.
