PSV vs Arsenal Europa League result, final score and reaction tonight as Veerman and De Jong - live
The Gunners went down 2-0 with three disallowed goals for the Dutch giants
Arsenal slipped to just a second defeat of the season after being outplayed at PSV Eindhoven as they failed to ensure top spot in their Europa League group.
A point would have been enough for the Gunners, but they were deservedly beaten 2-0 by Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side, with Joey Veerman and Luuk de Jong grabbing the goals.
Arsenal can still top Group A - and avoid the knockout round play-offs against the likes of Barcelona and Sevilla - by matching or bettering PSV‘s result in the final round of pool fixtures, but manager Mikel Arteta will be ruing having missed a chance to wrap things up early and rest players for their final Europa League game before the World Cup.
After confusion in the build-up surrounding what shorts Arsenal would wear to avoid a kit clash, the visitors ended up riding by the seat of their pants as PSV had two goals disallowed before finally opening the scoring through Veerman.
Aaron Ramsdale - on his European debut, with Matt Turner missing out as a precaution due to a groin issue - made a fine low save from Xavi Simons before Cody Gakpo fluffed his lines moments later, with the hosts setting the scene for the rest of the evening.
Gakpo was quiet at the Emirates Stadium a week ago but showed his quality in collecting a through ball and clipping a fine finish over Ramsdale - only to have his celebrations cut short by an offside flag.
With the game opening up, Eddie Nketiah drew a smart stop out of Walter Benitez with a near-post flick from Fabio Vieira’s cross.
PSV had a second goal of the half disallowed after Simons battled past Kieran Tierney, Rob Holding and William Saliba before finishing beyond Ramsdale, only for Anwar El Ghazi to have been caught offside in the build-up.
The half ended with Martin Odegaard stinging the palms of Benitez, but the visitors went for the break lucky to be level.
Nketiah flashed a shot past the post and Tierney curled over the crossbar as Arsenal started the second half brighter.
PSV, though, were still a threat at the other end, with Simons and Veerman both calling Ramsdale into action before Gakpo flashed a shot across goal.
It was third time lucky for the hosts, Veerman steering home a fine finish to break the deadlock 10 minutes into the second half.
Shortly afterwards the lead was doubled. De Jong, having been introduced at half-time, made the most of Ramsdale coming off his line and failing to punch clear a corner which the PSV skipper duly nodded home.
Arsenal, with Thomas Partey, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus all thrown on in an attempt to turn the game around, almost went three behind as Gakpo turned in a cross only to once again be thwarted by an offside flag.
De Jong then headed a fine chance wide with Arteta’s side well and truly on the ropes, although Nketiah still worked Benitez as Everton loanee Jarrad Branthwaite cleared away bravely.
Arsenal could not get any closer to a consolation than that, with former United striker Van Nistelrooy dishing out just a second loss of the campaign to Arteta’s side after the Red Devils won their Premier League meeting last month.
PSV vs Arsenal team changes
Ruud van Nistelrooy makes three changes to the PSV team that lost 4-2 in the Eredivisie at the weekend with defenders Jordan Teze and Armando Obispo replaced by Phillip Mwene and Jarrad Branthwaite. Erick Gutierrez slots into midfield and striker Guus Til fins himself on the bench.
As expected Mikel Arteta rings in the changes and introduces five new players to the starting XI. Rob Holding and Kieran Tierney join the back line with Albert Sambi Lokonga joining Martin Odegaard and Granit Xhaka in midfield. Fabio Vieira is given another start and Eddie Nketiah comes in up top.
Gabriel, Ben White, Thomas Partey, Buakyo Saka and Gabriel Jesus drop out.
PSV vs Arsenal line-ups
PSV XI: Benitez; Mwene, Ramalho, Branthwiate, Max; Veerman, Sangare, Gutierrez; Simons, El Ghazi, Gakpo
Arsenal XI: Ramsdale; Tomiyasu, Holding, Saliba, Tierney; Odegaard, Lokonga, Xhaka; Vieira, Martinelli, Nketiah
Tonight’s venue
PSV play at the 36,500-capacity Philips Stadion, which is the third-largest football stadium in the country. A ground has been on the site since 1910, with its last major works completed in 2002.
It has hosted Dutch national team matches, as well as three matches at Euro 2000 including England’s 3-2 defeat to Portugal.
It was also the venue for the 2006 Uefa Cup final when Middlesbrough were beaten 4-0 by Sevilla.
Ruud van Nistelrooy confident PSV will respond against Arsenal after shock loss
Ruud van Nistelrooy is certain PSV will avoid embarrassment when they host Arsenal again in the Europa League.
The second-placed Eredivisie side suffered a 4-2 loss to Groningen during Sunday’s domestic action, conceding three goals during a catastrophic six minutes to end the first half.
But boss Van Nistelrooy was adamant his squad to face the Gunners, who beat them 1-0 in London last week, are made of tougher stuff and will have exorcised any demons well before Thursday’s contest.
Ruud van Nistelrooy confident PSV will respond against Arsenal after shock loss
PSV suffered a 4-2 defeat to Groningen in Eredivisie on Sunday
Van Nistelrooy hoping to improve
PSV Eindhoven coach Ruud van Nistelrooy is hoping that his team will improve against the Gunners this evening after being impressed with his team’s performance in the second half at the Emirates last week.
Speaking at a press conference earlier this week he said: "I hope that we can build on our second-half display in London,
"Yes, Arsenal were better, but in the first half they were streets ahead of us. So, this time I hope we can do more with the ball and can stay higher up the pitch."
PSV vs English opposition
Tonight will mark the 19th time that PSV have played against an English side in European competition in Eindhoven and there is no telling what result is mosrt likely.
The Dutch side have six wins, six draws and six defeats here against English teams.
Arteta wants to finish first
Mikel Arteta says that it is vitally important that his team finish top of Group A and avoid a play-off match to reach the last-16 as the competition is getting more difficult due to the quality of the teams dropping out of the Champions League.
"Last week we made the first step which was to qualify for the next round. We need to win because we want to finish first," he said.
"This competition is getting harder and harder, it looks like the next round is going to be extremely competitive. That’s why finishing first in the group and avoiding another two games is such an important thing for us."
Mikel Arteta has ‘no complaints’ after Southampton hold Arsenal to draw
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta felt his Premier League leaders contributed to their own undoing after surrendering a lead at Southampton to drop points for only the second time this season.
Granit Xhaka’s thumping early strike put the in-form Gunners ahead at St Mary’s but they faded and eventually had to settle for a 1-1 draw following Stuart Armstrong’s second-half equaliser.
The draw was the north London club’s first in 32 fixtures in all competitions, dating back to January, leaving them just two points above champions Manchester City and with plenty of regrets.
Gabriel Jesus wasted two golden chances to stretch Arsenal’s lead before the leveller, while he was also denied a first-half penalty after appearing to be hauled down by Duje Caleta-Car.
Mikel Arteta has ‘no complaints’ after Southampton hold Arsenal to draw
Stuart Armstrong equalised following Granit Xhaka’s opener for the Gunners
PSV vs Arsenal early team news and predicted line-ups
Ruud van Nistelrooy will be without Yorbe Vertessen, Marco van Ginkel, Ismael Saibari, Kjell Peersman and Olivier Boscagli for the visit of Arsenal.
A number of absent PSV players were fit to return to action in the reverse fixture last week, including Luuk de Jong, who could be brought in to the starting side after another appearance from the bench in the 4-2 defeat to Groningen at the weekend.
Arsenal’s squad appears in reasonable shape with Oleksandr Zinchenko moving closer to a return from his calf issue, though Mohamed Elneny and Emile Smith Rowe remain out.
Mikel Arteta has mixed and matched his squad in European competition this year and this should be another opportunity for the manager to give chances to those not currently in his first-choice eleven.
Predicted line-ups
PSV XI: Benitez; Mwene, Ramalho, Obispo, Max; Veerman, Sangare, Gutierrez; Simons, De Jong, Gakpo.
Arsenal XI: Turner; Tomiyasu, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney; Xhaka, Lokonga; Nelson, Vieira, Martinelli; Nketiah
PSV vs Arsenal
Hello and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of Thursday’s Europa League action.
There are two big games this evening with Arsenal travelling to PSV Eindhoven needing just one point from the 5.45pm kick off to clinch top spot in Group A.
Manager Mikel Arteta will hope to use the game to regain his team’s winning momentum ahead of a Premier League trip to Nottingham Forest on Sunday. Should the Gunners win or draw in the Netherlands tonight they will qualify for the Europa League last-16 and avoid a play-off against one of the Champions League sides dropping into the competition.
Manchester United are second in Group E and trail Real Sociedad by three points. Erik ten Hag’s men host Sheriff Tiraspol at Old Trafford tonight with dedicated coverage of that game following the conclusion of Arsenal’s match versus PSV.
The Red Devils must match or better Sociedad’s result against Omonia Nicosia and then defeat the Spanish side in the final game week in order to finish first. If they fail to do so they will have to go through a play-off match in order to reach the last-16 and with teams like Juventus and Barcelona dropping out of the Champions League that will be no easy task. The first job though is to secure qualification to the next round and United still require a point to guarantee, at least, a second place finish.
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