Second-string Arsenal earn respectable draw at PSV to end UCL group stages

Arsenal's Mohamed Elneny and Eddie Nketiah | Imago

Second-string Arsenal earn respectable draw at PSV to end UCL group stages

Ayoola Kelechi 21:14 - 12.12.2023

Despite fielding a team of mostly second-string players, Arsenal played out a credible draw against PSV to round up their UCL group stage campaign

Arsenal rounded up their UEFA Champions League group stage campaign with a draw against PSV Eindhoven, despite playing with a largely second-string side in the match.

Arsenal finish top of UCL Group

The Gunners enjoyed the chance to field some of their second-team stars like Reiss Nelson, Cedric Soares, and Jakub Kiwior and still secured a good enough result to finish up their group stage campaign with a 1-1 draw away in Eindhoven.

Eddie Nketiah opened the scoring for Arsenal, while Yorbe Vertessen scored the equaliser for PSV, which eventually helped the Dutch side qualify for the second round of the Champions League.

The draw also meant that Arsenal finished with 13 points in the group, and ended the first round as group winners, which should earn them a favourable draw in the next round. 

Despite being under-strength, Arsenal scored the opener just before half-time after surviving a barrage of attacks from the home team.

Nketiah scored just before the half-time break to give the Gunners the lead going into the second half, but the lead only lasted five minutes into the second period as Vertessen restored parity for the home side.

The draw was the perfect result for both sides, as Arsenal ended the group stage on a relative high, while PSV secured passage to the round of 16, even though they will likely face a tough opponent in the second round after finishing second in the group.

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