EINDHOVEN — Arsenal’s bid to best Group A will go to the final match of the pool stages as they fell to a two- defeat to PSV Eindhoven. The Eredivisie side flourished in front of their dwelling help as they took complete benefit of a poor Arsenal efficiency to clinch their spot in the knockouts.
– Report: PSV vs. Arsenal | Europa League table | Upcoming fixtures
PSV had 3 objectives disallowed due to offside calls, but created two efforts count in the second-half as Joey Veerman opened the scoring in the 55th minute with a neatly placed shot previous Aaron Ramsdale. Luuk de Jong’s introduction at the break turned the match firmly in PSV’s favour and he scored their second in the 63rd minute as he got ahead of Aaron Ramsdale at a corner to place PSV two- up.
Arsenal emptied the bench, bringing on a host of their frequent starters, but PSV’s intensity did not let up as they recorded an impressive victory.
JUMP TO: Player ratings | Best/worst performers | Highlights and notable moments | Postmatch quotes | Key stats | Upcoming fixtures
Rapid reaction
1. Arsenal stumble
While Arteta stated earlier in the week he expects elite players to be capable to cope with a 70-match season, he could’ve performed with having a outcome on Thursday evening as the final issue he requirements is an added match to contend with. The format of this year’s Europa League signifies the runner up in a pool faces one particular of the third-placed Champions League sides in an added match to see who gets by way of to the subsequent stage of the knockouts.
Any outcome tonight for Arsenal would’ve secured best spot, but the defeat signifies that as factors stand, Arsenal have a two-point benefit more than PSV heading into the final round of games which means they can’t afford to step off the gas when they host FC Zurich subsequent week. Arteta has spoken not too long ago about possessing as well thin a squad to be capable to rotate in the Premier League and the stand-in players on Thursday hardly place forward a firm case to force their way into the beginning line-up anytime quickly. This was as poor a evening for Arsenal as it was a memorable one particular for hosts PSV.
two. Gakpo, Simons shine
Leading the line for PSV have been two of the brightest young talents in Europe in Cody Gakpo and Xavi Simons. Gakpo was heavily linked with a move to the Premier League in the summer season, with Manchester United admirers along with Arsenal, Leeds and Southampton. Though he was quiet at the Emirates final week — with Takehiro Tomiyasu marking him out of the game — he was capable to show a lot more of his class tonight in front of his dwelling help.
Gakpo had objectives disallowed in either half as he mistimed his run to finish up the incorrect side of the offside line but his pace brought on Arsenal concerns. And although each his efforts have been appropriately chalked off and his purpose tally for the season remains on 13, he did add help quantity 14 for the campaign as his pinpoint corner located Luuk de Jong’s head for PSV’s second.
Gakpo was partnered by Xavi Simons up front and the 19-year-old was electric for PSV. He had a great purpose disallowed in the initially half as Anwar El Ghazi was offside in the make up, but his trickery tied Arsenal in knots. With eight objectives, 3 assists this season you could see why he could be a late addition to the Netherlands’ squad for the World Cup.
Louis van Gaal named Simons in his extended squad on Friday and he has the capacity to turn matches on their head in the blink of an eye. He’s flourished considering that he created his summer season move from PSG to PSV and his reputation is only going to develop.
three. Arsenal depth concerns
Arteta would’ve learnt an awful lot on Thursday evening about these players on the periphery of the initially-group. The group which completed the match had a familiar appear with Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli major the line alongside Eddie Nketiah with Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey holding the midfield down. But provided Saka, Jesus and Partey began the match on the bench, Arteta clearly hoped the depth would be robust sufficient to cope with their absence.
Unfortunately the players he brought in failed to meet the process. Arteta was asked pre-match about Albert Sambi Lokonga’s comments about wanting a lot more initially-group possibilities — Arteta challenged him to make his case on the pitch. He was largely anonymous. Nketiah had 3 decent possibilities and failed to take any of them, although Rob Holding was turned by De Jong for PSV’s initially, with the striker developing sufficient space for himself to tee up Veerman. Fabio Vieira began out on the correct wing but only looked a lot more settled when he was moved a lot more central when Saka had come on.
Kieran Tierney — who has began 3 Premier League games this term — played all along the left flank, in centre midfield and as a marauding attacking midfielder at occasions but did not make an effect. On this proof, you can see why Arteta feels he has to stick with his strongest XI achievable at all occasions in the best flight which should be a concern if they are to retain up this charge in many competitions.
Player ratings
PSV: Walter Benitez 7, Phillipp Mwene 7, Andre Ramalho 7, Jarrad Branthwaite eight, Philipp Max six, Joey Veerman eight, Ibrahim Sangare 7, Erick Gutierrez 7, Xavi Simons 9, Anwar El Ghazi six, Cody Gakpo eight
Subs: Luuk de Jong eight, Noni Madueke 7, Jordan Teze six, Mauro Junior six, Guus Til six
Arsenal: Aaron Ramsdale six, Takehiro Tomiyasu six, Rob Holding five, William Saliba six, Kieran Tierney five, Granit Xhaka six, Albert Sambi Lokonga five, Martin Odegaard six, Fabio Vieira six, Gabriel Martinelli five, Eddie Nketiah five
Subs: Bukayo Saka six, Thomas Partey six, Gabriel Jesus six, Gabriel six, Ben White six
Best and worst performers
Ideal: Xavi Simons, PSV
He was great for PSV. They had impressive performances all through with Gakpo, Jarrod Branthwaite, Joey Veerman and substitute Luuk de Jong all outstanding, but it was Simons’ trickery that lit up the Eindhoven evening.
WORST: Sambi Lokonga, Arsenal
There are a fair handful of contenders right here from the guests with Nketiah, Holding and Fabio Vieira all poor, but Lokonga was anonymous.
Highlights and notable moments
Luuk de Jong assisted PSV’s initially purpose and scored the second right after coming on at half-time. Talk about an effect sub!
LUUUUUUUUUUUUUUKKKKKK!!!!!!!!#PSVARS two- #UEL pic.twitter.com/SB1O69nxg1
— PSV (@PSV) October 27, 2022
An in-kind Gakpo has been causing issues for Arsenal’s back line.
Cody Gakpo has had two objectives disallowed tonight (PSV three in total) – he’s looked a lot superior than the initially occasions I watched him earlier this season. PSV have been good.
— Alex Shaw (@AlexShawESPN) October 27, 2022
After the match: What the players and managers stated
Ruud van Nistelrooy on Luuk de Jong: “The mixture with him as a quantity 9 with reference but also Cody Gakpo on the left and Xavi Simons on the correct, they have been taking superior positions off him. The group got a lot of self-confidence that our captain is back and it was a significant modify from how we played in the initially and second half.”
Mikel Arteta: “It’s the finish of a lengthy run for the initially defeat right after a lengthy period — it really is time to reset and analyse what occurred. Congratulations to PSV they deserved to win the game. They have been on best of the duels. In all elements right now we have been particularly poor.”
“It was distinctive right now from the starting — I never feel we had the threat and aggression we have been playing at. In the second half when factors went incorrect, we went down and did not come across moments to give us hope to react.”
Key stats
– Xavi Simons: one hundred% dribble accomplishment, one hundred% tackle accomplishment, 13 duels contested (most), ten passes in final third, six possession won, two possibilities designed, two shots
Up subsequent
Arsenal: The Gunners face final-spot Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Oct. 30, followed by their final Europa League group stage match against FC Zurich, and then a significant match against in-kind Chelsea in the Premier League on Nov. six.
PSV Eindhoven: PSV play NEC Nijmegen subsequent in the Eredivisie on Oct. 30. Then, they travel to face Bodo/Glimt on matchday six of the Europa League on Nov. three.
