On Thursday, Arsenal defeated PSV Eindhoven 1-0 to maintain their perfect record in the Europa League and carry on the strong play that has them atop the Premier League. Granit Xhaka scored the game-winning goal in the 70th minute, although the game remained tied for the majority of the evening as Arsenal missed opportunities to take the lead. Check out our website for the most amazing sports betting casinos and the most lucrative iGaming offers.
On September 4, Arsenal lost against Manchester United in the competition. In actuality, it’s the only contest they’ve lost this year.
In the red section of north London, things are going well: after 10 games, they have their greatest Premier League start ever, and they have gone unbeaten in the Europa League with four victories out of four, securing a spot in the knockout stage with two group games remaining.
They are therefore five points ahead of PSV and just a hair’s breadth away from winning the group and skipping the first knockout phase, which begins just days after the group stage concludes on November 7.
Losing against PSV on Thursday would have been risky because it would have meant playing two more games in a season that was wedged between the World Cup and the possibility of finishing second and facing Champions League competition. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s team needed to avoid playing an additional game against PSV to show Manchester City that they were legitimate championship contenders, and they did just that.
Matt Turner, the starting goalkeeper for the American men’s national team, is second fiddle to Aaron Ramsdale at Arsenal. The two will clash when the Americans play Group B rivals England at the World Cup in Qatar. Turner referred to his summer transfer from the New England Revolution to Arsenal as a “necessary risk” in a press conference prior to the game.
Although Gregg Berhalter has made him the favorite to start for the United States ahead of Zack Steffen, he did not have much to do in this match. Turner will probably play one more time in the rematch in the Netherlands, injuries permitting.
Turner might have lacked experience, but he was aware of this before joining Arsenal. Now he must pray that he is prepared for Qatar.
PSV hardly had a kick Thursday as Arteta’s team maintained consistent control, as seen by their 62% possession and 25 shots. Arsenal dominated both halves.
In the first few minutes, Kieran Tierney blazed an opportunity, and then Granit Xhaka quickly followed with a lackluster effort. What they mainly failed to do was find a final pass. Gabriel Jesus missed a good opportunity after slipping between two defenders. Early in the second half, Bukayo Saka squandered a one-on-one opportunity.
Before Xhaka finally broke the score with a superbly executed half-volley on minute 70, further waves of possession went by without consequence. However, there should have been more. Even after that, PSV goalkeeper Walter Benitez made a couple of outstanding saves to keep the score at one.
There is currently little cause for concern at Arsenal, but Arteta won’t be pleased after three straight games in which only one goal was scored. However, three victories might.
