In an intense clash that concluded Group B’s Champions League campaign, Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw by PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday, despite both teams having already secured their last-16 spots.
Arsenal, leading the group, took the initiative just before halftime. Eddie Nketiah, seizing his moment in Europe’s elite competition, scored his first Champions League goal in the 42nd minute. The goal was a result of an impressive team effort, with Reiss Nelson making a darting run down the right flank and engaging in a quick interchange with Cédric, culminating in a precise square pass for Nketiah to convert.
PSV Eindhoven, currently dominating the Dutch league, responded with vigor after the break. Yorbe Vertessen, a standout performer for the home side, found the net five minutes into the second half. Vertessen had earlier rattled the woodwork in the 19th minute with a header from Jordan Teze’s cross. His goal, a testament to his persistence, was a curling effort that ricocheted off both posts before crossing the line. The goal was set up by Ricardo Pepi, who played Vertessen through following a swift attack.
The match was not without its share of near-misses and intense moments. PSV could have taken the lead in the 66th minute through Ismael Saibari, whose deflected shot hit the post. Later, in the final moments, substitute Guus Till narrowly missed an opportunity to clinch the win for PSV.
Arsenal, under Mikel Arteta’s management, made significant changes to their lineup, rotating eight players from their Premier League defeat at Aston Villa. Despite the adjustments, the Gunners displayed resilience. They thought they had regained the lead when Jakub Kiwior’s header found the net, but it was disallowed for offside. In the dying seconds, PSV’s goalkeeper Walter Benítez denied Leandro Trossard with a remarkable save, and Kiwior blasted the rebound wide, squandering a chance to snatch victory.
The draw left Arsenal atop Group B with 13 points, followed by PSV with nine. RC Lens, finishing third, will continue their European journey in the Europa League. This match highlighted Arsenal’s depth and PSV’s relentless pursuit, setting the stage for an exciting knockout phase in the Champions League.
