ARSENAL wrapped up their return to the UEFA Champions League group stage with a 1-1 draw away to PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday, finishing top of Group B after six seasons out of Europe’s top competition.
The Gunners clinched top spot in the group and a seeded spot in next Monday’s draw for the round of 16 during the previous round of fixtures, which prompted Mikel Arteta to make eight changes to the starting lineup that lost 1-0 Aston Villa on Saturday.
Arsenal went ahead just before halftime, as Eddie Nketiah worked a yard or two of space for himself and fired a perfectly placed arrow into the bottom, off the inside of the post, from the top of the penalty area in the 42nd minute. The goal came at a time in the game when PSV were on the front foot and creating a handful of scoring chances inside 10 yards.
PSV proved to be hardly deterred by the goal, as they began the second half as brightly as the first and finally got their reward. It was a pair of Americans who combined in the build-up, as Malik Tillman carried the ball forward from PSV’s defensive third and picked out Ricardo Pepi with a threaded through ball in behind.
Pepi dribbled to the edge of the box before laying it off to Yorbe Vertessesn, who made the overlapping run into the penalty area at the perfect time. Vertessen curled a deft strike off the inside of the far post with his first touch to make it 1-1.