Arsenal vs PSV LIVE: Europa League result, final score and reaction as Xhaka strike gives Gunners the win
Arsenal booked their place in the Europa League knockout stages with a 1-0 win over PSV
Arsenal continued their perfect form in Europe this season while extending their winning run to eight matches in all competitions as Granit Xhaka struck the winner in a 1-0 victory over PSV Eindhoven in the Europa League.
The hosts dominated the first half but could not test Walter Benitez in the PSV goal, with the sides locked at 0-0 at the interval. Arsenal eventually broke the deadlock with 20 minutes to go, Xhaka finishing with aplomb from just inside the PSV box, with the midfielder’s goal securing Arsenal’s place in the knockout stages.
And the result moves Arsenal five points clear of Ruud van Nistelrooy’s PSV in Group A, ahead of their return match against the Dutch side next Thursday where they can secure top spot with at least a draw. Before then, Mikel Arteta’s side will visit Southampton in the Premier League.
Van Nistelrooy vs Arsenal
Ruud van Nistelrooy scored two goals in 12 games against Arsenal for Manchester United which was his lowest goals/game rate (0.2) against a side he faced more than five times for the Red Devils.
Can PSV win in England?
PSV have won just one of their last 11 away matches against English sides, with four draws and six defeats, beating Tottenham Hotspur in the last 16 of the Uefa Cup in 2007/08.
The Dutch side also beat Zurich 5-1 in their last Europa League away game – they haven’t won consecutively on the road in the competition since October 2013.
‘It gets heated’: Mikel Arteta responds to Jurgen Klopp touchline antics
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta admits his touchline behaviour can sometimes make for difficult viewing – and accepts all managers have a huge responsibility to try to keep their emotions under control.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been charged with improper behaviour by the Football Association following his sending off during the 1-0 win over Manchester City on Sunday.
Klopp was shown a red card for his angry reaction towards referee Anthony Taylor and one of his assistants after Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah was not awarded a foul following a challenge by Bernardo Silva.
‘It gets heated’: Mikel Arteta responds to Jurgen Klopp touchline antics
Van Nistelrooy backing Gakpo
Ruud van Nistelrooy has backed attacker Cody Gakpo to cause Arsenal some trouble tonight after his blistering start to the season.
"His quality and form over the last three or four months has been exceptional.” said the PSV boss, “His stats and goals draw the attention of big clubs in European football.
“He is 23 and is focusing on his career with us at club level and having a great World Cup. He wants to continue that."
Arsenal team changes
Mikel Arteta makes four changes to the Arsenal team that started against Bodo/Glimt in their last Europa League outing. Takehiro Tomiyasu and Gabriel come into the back line to replace Ben White and William Saliba.
Martin Odegaard sits out with Granit Xhaka brought in and Gabriel Jesus earns a first Europa League start for Arsenal replacing Reiss Nelson.
Arsenal vs PSV line-ups
Arsenal XI: Turner; Tomiyasu, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney; Lokonga, Xhaka, Vieira; Saka, Jesus, Nketiah
PSV XI: Benitez, Mwene, Ramalho, Obispo, Max, Gutierrez, Sangare, Simons, Veerman, Gakpo, Til
‘I expect a warm welcome’
As part of the pre-match build-up Ruud van Nistelrooy joked that he is expecting a ‘warm welcome’ from Arsenal fans when he brings his team, PSV Eindhoven, tonight.
Van Nistelrooy famously missed a last-minute penalty for Manchester United against Arsenal during the Gunners’ ‘Invincibles’ season in 2003/04, with the match finishing 0-0.
"I expect a warm welcome," he said, "I kept them invincible because of my miss.
"It’s 20 years ago now. It doesn’t define me but coming back to England and to Arsenal, memories come back of my time there and those two infamous games are part of it."
Van Nistelrooy ready to face Arsenal again
PSV Eindhoven coach, Ruud van Nistelrooy, is readying to face Arsenal again following his time as a striker for Manchester United where he made 150 appearances between 2001-2006.
Arsenal’s opponents tonight
PSV Eindhoven are one of the Netherlands’ biggest clubs, and have won 24 league titles as well as both the European Cup in 1987/88 and the Uefa Cup in 1977/78.
They have appeared in Europe in every season since 1975/76, meaning this will be their 49th straight campaign doing so.
Last season saw them finish second-place in the Eredivisie, behind Ajax, as well as reaching the quarter-finals of the Europa Conference League where they fell to Leicester City.
They did win the Dutch Cup though and came from behind to beat Ajax 2-1.
Arteta hoping to top Group A
Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, says that his team must take the opportunity to finish top of their Europa League group and avoid a playoff match to reach latter stages of the tournamen in February.
"When you have a chance to take advantage you have to do it," said Arteta."You don’t know what happens in the next game. It will be a really tough match.
"Where we want to be is at the top and the best team in this country.
"In order to do that you will meet teams that want to beat you and build that rivalry to a different level. We are already experiencing things like that."
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