Arsenal 1 PSV 0: Gunners seal place in Europa League knockout stages as Xhaka’s winner keeps up 100% group stage record
NUMBER 10 may be a crumbling wreck at the moment but this grand old institution looks in fine fettle.
Arsenal were the only Premier League team to win every single game they played during Liz Truss’ swift stint as prime minister.
And unlike the now former PM, who famously disliked North Londoners, they look set for a serious stint at the top.
The Gunners were burning through chances like they were Tory leaders before Granit Xhaka put Mikel Arteta out of his misery and fired them through to the Europa League knockout stages.
The hosts dominated the opening stages but just lacked the final clinical touch.
Kieran Tierney blazed an effort over the bar after a scramble in the box before Xhaka sent one wide after a smart lay-off from Gabriel Jesus.
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The Brazilian striker then had a crack of his own, fizzing a low shot just wide of the near post from the edge of the area.
PSV were being well and truly pegged back but did manage one foray forward. Xavi Simons drove forward down the middle of the pitch but sent his shot just over the bar.
Eindhoven keeper Walter Benitez then had to be alive to tip a deflected Bukayo Saka cross over the bar.
During the next red wave, Ibrahim Sangare tripped Xhaka on the edge of the area, with Fabio Vieira sending the free-kick into the side netting.
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It simply wasn’t coming off for Arsenal.
After a frustrating first half, Jesus took up the baton once more shortly after the restart – collecting the ball from Saka before weaving past a couple of blue shirts, though his effort was tame at the end.
PSV offered another warning that they could make Arsenal pay for wasted chances as Simons sent another effort just over Matt Turner’s bar.
Saka then took his turn to pass up a chance, firing straight at the PSV keeper, before Jesus followed up with another limp shot.
Even though this was an early kick-off, starting at 6pm so not to clash with the Prem games, Jesus could have been out there all night long without finding the back of the net.
He wriggled free of the PSV back line well to once again see Benitez get a hand to his left-footed effort.
With Jesus falling short, Eddie Nketiah looked to grasp the moment for himself, collecting a long ball perfectly on his chest, quickly cutting inside but bending his shot just wide of the top corner.
Arteta called for Martin Odegaard and Thomas Partey to try and sharpen the blunt attack, and it didn’t take long for the captain to get things going.
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Odegaard fed Takehiro Tomiyasu down the right, whose cross was low to the feet of Xhaka. The midfielder had found space just behind the penalty spot and lashed home a first-time finish on his right foot.
Jesus was hooked shortly after the goal but Saka could have added to the lead when he broke free down the left but fired straight at the keeper.
