Arsenal 1-0 PSV (Xhaka, 70′)
EMIRATES STADIUM — One of the greatest feats achieved by Mikel Arteta and his players has been to transform the atmosphere in the Emirates from one of trepidation to expectation. This stadium has been no stranger to hostility since its opening in 2006 but finally, it’s the away players feeling the heat. Home fans now come here believing that their team can beat anyone. That marks an extremely welcome change. Their team have breezed into the Europa League knockout rounds with two games to spare.
Visiting sides have shrunk on this stage and initially, it looked as though PSV would follow what is becoming an increasingly predictable pattern. Arsenal’s methodology, especially at home where their winning run now extends to 10 games dating back to April, has been to squeeze their opponents until their defence pops open like a bag of crisps. It’s controlled domination designed to wear down the other side until chances, and goals, inevitably come.
To their credit PSV, who have generally subscribed to the “we’ll score five if you score four” mantra, held firm, becoming only the third team this season to stop the Gunners from scoring a first-half goal.
The cliché that teams often reflect their coach seems apt with Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side: they have scored 35 times in only 10 Eredivisie matches, a total higher than any club in Europe’s “big five” leagues and walloped title rivals Ajax 5-3 in the Dutch Super Cup. Their sought-after forward Cody Gakpo has improbably managed more goals and assists than Erling Haaland this season; unfortunately, this was not a night for him to showcase his potential.
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But as they have done consistently over the past few weeks, Arsenal eventually found a way. And it is a testament to his redemption story that is no longer a surprise when Granit Xhaka is the one putting the ball in the back of the net. An awkward half-volley on your weaker right foot? No problem for Granit, these days. He celebrated his third goal of the campaign as if he were Eric Cantona, basking in the adulation of his adoring faithful. All that was missing was the upturned collar.
That is a delightful finish from Granit Xhaka!
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 20, 2022
The one bit of quality Arsenal have been after comes from the Swiss midfielder.#UEL pic.twitter.com/cwfKqNEZJk
Proof of Arsenal’s increased tempo and ambition after the restart could be found in Walter Benitez’s shot count: the Argentine didn’t have a save to make in the opening 45 minutes, but was pressed into action eight times after the restart. Prior to Xhaka’s 70th-minute opener, Benitez won a battle of wits against Bukayo Saka and denied Gabriel Jesus a fine solo goal after the Brazilian had contorted himself into space like a Covent Garden magician.
Eddie Nketiah, repurposed as an inside forward on the left wing, also went close after cutting inside and flashing a strike wide.
Arsenal player ratings
- Matt Turner: Had one awkward moment with his feet late on but looks a competent shot-stopper – 6
- Takehiro Tomiyasu: The full-back is ideally suited to tight matches against opponents of a similar stature owing to his defensive aptitude, but needs to offer more offensively against weaker sides – 6
- Rob Holding: Robustly dealt with PSV’s forward Guus Til who has been in good goalscoring form this season. Solid in the air and on the floor – 7
- Gabriel Magalhaes: Has been involved in a few flashpoints of late but had a relatively serene evening – 7
- Kieran Tierney: From undisputed first-choice left-back, the Scot is arguably now behind Oleksandr Zinchenko and Tomiyasu in the pecking order and has work to do to regain his starting spot – 6
- Albert Sambi Lokonga: Is growing in stature after a difficult debut season and was accomplished in midfield up against the combative Ibrahim Sangare – 7
- Granit Xhaka: Showed both sides of his game this season, earning an unnecessary yellow card for a frustrated challenge on Simons before popping up in the penalty area to make a difference – 8
- Bukayo Saka: Not his night in front of goal but the game’s best player regardless. PSV defenders were terrified by his pace and directness. Deserved a goal – 8
- Fabio Vieira: Arsenal’s Europa League king. This is a competition where firing players can press their case and no Arsenal player is doing more in that regard than the Portuguese No 10 – 8
- Eddie Nketiah: Shunted out to the left wing to accommodate Jesus and played pretty well considering it is an alien position for him. A glimpse into his future, perhaps? 6
- Gabriel Jesus: A surprise starter given Nketiah has generally led the line in Europe. Like Saka, it wasn’t his night in the penalty box, but he was a nuisance to the PSV rearguard all evening – 7
Subs:
- Thomas Partey – 6
- Martin Odegaard – 6
- Gabriel Martinelli – 7
- Ben White – 6
- Reiss Nelson – N/A
The chances continued to come after PSV’s credible resistance had been breached. Benitez made a flying stop to divert a ferocious Gabriel Martinelli drive to safety, before blocking from Saka again as he raced past a few tired defenders in blue shirts. Hearts were in mouths around the Emirates when Saka, the game’s outstanding player despite his frustrations in front of goal, went to ground after taking a shot late on. Thankfully, for Arsenal and England, he was able to pick himself up and carry on. “I think he’s okay,” a typically guarded Arteta told BT Sport afterwards.
Fortress Emirates: Arsenal’s 10 game winning run
- Arsenal 3-1 Man Utd – 23 April
- Arsenal 2-1 Leeds – 8 May
- Arsenal 5-1 Everton – 22 May
- Arsenal 4-2 Leicester – 13 August
- Arsenal 2-1 Fulham – 27 August
- Arsenal 2-1 Aston Villa – 31 August
- Arsenal 3-1 Tottenham – 1 October
- Arsenal 3-0 Bodo/Glimt – 6 October
- Arsenal 3-2 Liverpool – 9 October
- Arsenal 1-0 PSV Eindhoven – 20 October
It was largely thanks to Benitez’s efforts that the floodgates did not open, but a talented PSV side did have their moments, notably when Xavi Simons, the precociously gifted teenager signed in the summer from PSG, forced Matt Turner into action after leaving Kieran Tierney clutching at thin air. And as they pressed for an equaliser a promising move, led by the Barnet-born, ex-Tottenham academy youngster Noni Madueke and carried on by Simons was halted in its tracks by two “professional fouls” from covering Arsenal defenders. That too is evidence of this team’s growing maturity.
Xhaka: I can’t remember the last time I scored with my right foot
“I’m in this position now in the past couple of weeks. I’m so happy the ball came of course today and happy I scored,” said Xhaka.
When told it was the first time he had scored for Arsenal with his right foot, the Swiss added: “I believe it I think because I don’t know the last time I scored with my right foot! Maybe it’s the first one in my career. I have to check but yeah, so happy. It doesn’t matter which one or whose scoring, the most important thing is we keep winning.”
Aaron = all of us
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 20, 2022pic.twitter.com/QrVpwjfNMw
The Gunners have won all but one of their 14 matches this season and Xhaka admitted that morale is high inside the dressing room.
“When you win games you have to be happy. Everything is going well at the moment but as well this is not coming as a surprise, we are doing a lot of work during the week. The players coming in who don’t play a lot are giving us a lot of good performances and in the end you win and lose as a team and at the moment we are very dangerous.”
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