Paris Saint-Germain 1 Arsenal 1: Alexis Sanchez equaliser secures unlikely draw in Parc des Princes
Gunners escape with a point as Edinson Cavani wastes a series of chances after scoring in 42 seconds
ALEXIS SANCHEZ struck a crucial equaliser as Arsenal escaped with an unlikely draw against French champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Sanchez lashed home the rebound after Alex Iwobi’s shot had been saved as Arsene Wenger’s side clinched a point they barely deserved at the Parc des Princes.
Edinson Cavani wheels away in celebration after his first minute header put PSG ahead against Arsenal
PSG made the ideal start when Edinson Cavani headed into the bottom corner just 42 seconds after the kick-off to stun Arsenal.
But Cavani wasted a series of other chances and David Ospina also starred in goal for the Gunners to keep them in the game.
Marco Verratti and Olivier Giroud were then both sent-off in stoppage time after clashing near the half-way line.
FACTS, STATS, GOALS AND LOLS
Arsene Wenger forgot to mention on Monday that Theo Walcott hadn’t travelled due to a ‘slight knee problem’. Expect him back next year.
Wenger wasn’t the only one to take a punt with his keeper. PSG boss Unai Emery rested Kevin Trapp and handed a Champions League debut to Alphonse Areola.
Nacho Monreal watches on as PSG players mob Edinson Cavani after he opened the scoring in the first minute
Most of the giant posters decorating the Parc des Princes featured Zlatan Ibrahimovic and David Luiz. Somebody should have a word with PSG’s marketing department.
The first time Ospina touched the ball was to pick it out of his net. But no-one could blame the Colombian this time. Arsenal would have been buried without him.
Santi Cazorla no longer looks capable of playing two games in four days and struggled to get close to PSG’s midfield runners in the sweltering heat.
New signing Shkodran Mustafi struggles to keep up with Angel Di Maria
How much longer will Wenger persist with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in his starting line-up? The struggling England star constantly gave the ball away.
Two of Arsenal’s big summer signings were on the bench last night and Shkodran Mustafi must have wished he could have joined them as he was given the run-around by Edinson Cavani.
Olivier Giroud was loudly booed by the Parisian fans when he came on as a second-half sub for the Ox. At least he still loves himself.
The size and strength of the PSG team was reminiscent of Arsenal of ten years ago – when they used to challenge for the Champions League.
Arsenal have huge expectations of Alex Iwobi and it isn’t hard to see why. The young Nigerian is a star in the making.
It is more than 16 years since Arsenal last failed to qualify from the group stages. This result means they could even top their table before making their traditional exit in the last 16.
PSG came within a whisker of a late winner when Marquinhos just failed to get enough contact on a diving header from close range.
STAT ATTACK
DREAM TEAM RATINGS
ARSENAL: David Ospina 7, Hector Bellerin 6, Shkodran Mustafi 7, Laurent Koscielny 6, Nacho Monreal 6, Alex Iwobi 6, Francis Coquelin 6 (Granit Xhaka 71, 6), Mesut Ozil 6 (Mohamed Elneny 84, 6), Santi Cazorla 7, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 6 (Olivier Giroud 63, 4), Alexis Sanchez 7
Booked: Coquelin, Giroud
Sent off: Giroud
STAR MAN: Alexis Sanchez, 7
THEY SAID
Arsenal boss, Arsene Wenger: “We wanted to start at a high pace and after a minute we are 1-0 down. For 20 minutes we were outpaced, they started much better than us but we were resilient.
“We played much better in the second half, they dropped a bit as well. We pushed very high and were vulnerable to the counter attack but it’s a good point for us.
“Away from home you have to battle up front and Alexis Sanchez did well. He was isolated at times and in the second half it was easier for him.
“I couldn’t work out the red cards. Giroud swears to me that he did nothing at all. We will look at it again. I believe Giroud.”