Arsenal vs PSV LIVE: Europa League result, final score and reaction as Xhaka strike gives Gunners the win
Arsenal booked their place in the Europa League knockout stages with a 1-0 win over PSV
Arsenal continued their perfect form in Europe this season while extending their winning run to eight matches in all competitions as Granit Xhaka struck the winner in a 1-0 victory over PSV Eindhoven in the Europa League.
The hosts dominated the first half but could not test Walter Benitez in the PSV goal, with the sides locked at 0-0 at the interval. Arsenal eventually broke the deadlock with 20 minutes to go, Xhaka finishing with aplomb from just inside the PSV box, with the midfielder’s goal securing Arsenal’s place in the knockout stages.
And the result moves Arsenal five points clear of Ruud van Nistelrooy’s PSV in Group A, ahead of their return match against the Dutch side next Thursday where they can secure top spot with at least a draw. Before then, Mikel Arteta’s side will visit Southampton in the Premier League.
Kick off: Arsenal 0-0 PSV
The visitors get the match underway at the Emirates stadium and boot the ball long. It’s won by Kieran Tierney who knocks the ball along the back line before Arsenal send it long down the right wing where Bukayo Saka chase a lost cause and sees the ball cross the byline for a goal kick.
Arsenal vs PSV
Here come the teams!
Granit Xhaka captains the Gunners tonight in the absence of Martin Odegaard. Arsenal will want to sow up qualification for the knockouts tonight and will almost certainly top Group A with a win.
PSV’s Cody Gakpo will also come under the spotlight after being earmarked for a move to the Premier League last summer. What can he bring to the party tonight?
A landmark for Tierney
Kieran Tierney makes his 100th appearance for Arsenal this evening. Will he be celebrating with a win later on?
Arsenal vs PSV
Warm-ups done and just over 10 minutes to go until kick off. Will Arsenal collect another Europa League victory tonight?
Martin Odegaard pinpoints key to Arsenal’s superb start to the season
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has hailed the club’s “winning mentality” after they continued their fine start to the season with a narrow Europa League victory at Bodo/Glimt.
Bukayo Saka’s fortuitous first-half goal was enough to seal a 1-0 win in the Arctic Circle as the Gunners made it 11 victories from 12 games.
Odegaard started in his native Norway as boss Mikel Arteta shuffled his pack with one eye on Sunday’s tricky trip to Leeds.
With the World Cup truncating the club calendar, Arsenal have so far managed their squad well with only a 3-1 loss at Manchester United blotting their copy book.
Odegaard believes the mindset within the squad is behind the recent run and, despite sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League, he insists no one is taking anything for granted.
Martin Odegaard pinpoints key to Arsenal’s superb start to the season
The Gunners continued their good run with a 1-0 win over Bodo/Glimt on Thursday night
Van Nistelrooy on Arsenal
Ruud van Nistelrooy says that Arsenal have had an amazing start to the season and sees tonight’s game as an opportunity foe his team to test themselves against the Premier League leaders.
"They’ve had a great start. Ten games in the season, with nine wins, it’s an amazing start from them, the way they are playing.” said the PSV boss,
"[Mikel] Arteta is developing his team with his style of play and he has done well with a young side - it’s a very promising team that’s a joy to watch.
"It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to come here and test ourselves."
Can Arsenal win four in a row?
Arsenal have won each of their first three group-stage games in all five of their appearances in the Europa League. However, only in 2020/21 have they won four in a row, but on that occasion they went on to win all six.
Arsenal vs PSV
The Gunners have arrived at the Emirates stadium. Kick off for this Europa League tie is set for 6pm with the players getting ready to head out onto the pitch for the warm-ups.
Mikel Arteta urges Arsenal to wrap up Europa League progress to ‘skip two matches’
Mikel Arteta has urged his Arsenal players to make short work of their Europa League group and earn some time off as they prepare to host PSV Eindhoven on Thursday.
Arsenal have won their opening three Group A fixtures and a victory over Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Eredivisie outfit will see them qualify for the knockout stages and put them on the cusp of topping the group.
Winning the group is rewarded with a bye for the round of 32, something which could prove even more vital in a season where a winter World Cup has truncated the calendar.
Arteta has rotated in the Europa League this year but not to the extent many expected, with the likes of Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and William Saliba all starting last week’s win away at Bodo/Glimt.
Mikel Arteta urges Arsenal to wrap up Europa League progress to ‘skip two matches’
Winning the group is rewarded with a bye for the round of 32.
Arteta on facing PSV
Mikel Arteta spoke about what he is expecting from Arsenal’s opponents when PSV Eindhoven arrive at the Emirates stadium tonight.
“I think it’s a really good team.” he said, “I think what Ruud [van Nistelrooy] has done with his team, the way they play, you just see the amount of goals they are scoring in their domestic league, the way they are performing in the Europa League as well, they are a really dangerous team.”
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