A beautiful first-time finish from Granit Xhaka has seen Arsenal qualify for the Europa League knockout stages on Thursday with a 1-0 victory over PSV at the Emirates. It seemed like Arsenal's domination wouldn't lead to a reward as they had to wait until the 72nd minute to get the job done, but the PSV defense lost Xhaka in the box and Takehiro Tomiyasu played a great cross into the box to find him. The result sees Arsenal maintain their perfect record in Europa League with 12 points in four matches while PSV will stay on seven points.
After being stripped of the captaincy back in 2019, Xhaka has undergone a 180 and is enjoying his best season in an Arsenal shirt under Mikel Arteta. Because of that, it was poetic that he scored the winner in Europa League while sporting the captain's armband as Martin Odegaard started the match on the bench. It was a great goal from Xhaka lulling the defense to sleep before making them pay with a right-footed strike.
Here are takeaways:
Already leading the Premier League, it's matches like this one that shows how far Arsenal have come this season. In the first half, they had nine shots with none testing the keeper despite holding 65% possession. It would've been interesting to be a fly on the wall during the halftime team talk as the second half saw Arsenal score a goal while also taking 16 shots and putting eight on target. The second half did see Odegaard, Thomas Partey, and Gabriel Martinelli come into the match but it's the type of bearing down that's needed in a long season to compete on multiple fronts.
If Arsenal can keep up their intensity for 90-plus minutes each match, the sky is the limit for what they can accomplish, and doing it while only allowing four shots to a free-flowing PSV team also shows that they can defend while attacking at the same time. These are performances that show that Arsenal can win the competition.
While PSV had trouble creating chances against Arsenal, the few that they did create came from the feet of Xavi Simons. The Dutch midfielder was electric while dribbling but his shots went over the bar, not testing Matt Turner in net. But the former PSG man was sharp on the ball. He took three of PSV's four shots during the match, while also winning a tackle and making five recoveries. Simons only has one goal in Europa League play compared to eight in the Eredivisie but matches like this one against Arsenal show that things may be clicking which could see PSV make quite an advance into the later stages of the tournament.
It took longer than expected for the breakthrough goal but Xhaka was there when Arsenal needed him to secure the victory. The Gunners took 25 shots during the match but the finishing wasn't there. It's important for Arsenal to win these games too as they show that the team doesn't need to be perfect to pick up points.
It's a Ledezma sighting as he enters for the four minutes of stoppage time. PSV can still get an equalizer so Arsenal will need to be careful in these final minutes.
Ben White and Gabriel Martinelli have entered and PSV are back to a stage where they can't get a foot on the ball.
Xhaka floated into space int he box for a first time finish after Tomiyasu's cross into the box. Arsenal are ahead and chasing another goal now.
Martin Odegaard and Thomas Partey have entered the match for Arsenal. Lokonga and Vieira have exited as Arsenal look for the finishing touch with 20 minutes remaining.
It's only a matter of time until changes are made as Martin Odegaard is being put through his paces. Carrying an injury, Gabriel Martinelli hasn't joined the substitutes warming up so he may not participate in the match.
Simons is again causing danger as he hits a chance over the bar. These teams have done everything possible but put the ball in the back of the net as the match is beginning to get stretched.
PSV have been good at soaking up pressure but Arsenal need to take advantage of the match being at their home stadium.
Domination for Arsenal but no results so far and they will worry as Xhaka has picked up a yellow card for a foul on Xavi Simons.
Saka swings a corner into the box and it almost finds Gabriel in front of goal. The Gunners have taken six shots in the first half with none hitting the target so PSV would be happy if they can make it to the half level.
He beat quite a few Arsenal players before taking a shot on. While he didn't test Matt Turner with his chance going over the bar, these are the kind of counter attacks that Arsenal will need to be wary of. PSV has excellent individual talent on the pitch that doesn't need much space to make the Gunners pay.
Xhaka plays Jesus into acres of space but he drags his shot just wide. Arsenal will need to be more clinical or all this slick passing play could be undone by one good PSV counter.
Even when Xavi Simons played a great cross in, Arsenal were in the right position to keep things at bay. While PSV don't really have options to try and go long in the match, they could need to change things sooner than later as the Gunners are knocking.
Saka played a wonderful chance into Nketiah but he scuffed his shot. That fell to Tierney who blazed his chance over the bar. It feels like only a matter of time until Arsenal hit the back of the net. They're flying in attack.
The Gunners are dominating possession but PSV's defense is setup well to begin the match. While it's early, Arsenal having 82% of the possession is an astonishing number.
Can Arsenal get off to a fast start to cruise to qualifying for the knockout stages of Europa League?
Arsenal have become known for their free flowing attack as they have the highest passing accuracy in the Europa League this season completing 88% of their passes. But PSV know how to ping the ball around the pitch as well completing 86% of their passes in European play. If they can get Gakpo into space with quick passes, this could be a close match.
PSV Starters: Benitez, Max, Obispo, Ramalho, Mwene, Gutierrez, Sangare, Gakpo, Veerman, Simons, Til
Reserves: Hoever, Teze, de Jong, Madueke, Drommel, Junior, El Ghazi, Branthwaite, Waterman, Bakayoko, Savio, Ledezma
Arsenal starters: Turner, Tomiyasu, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney, Sambi Lokonga, Xhaka, Saka, Vieira, Nketiah, Jesus
Reserves: Ramsdale, White, Partey, Odegaard, Martinelli, Saliba, Soares, Nelson, Marquinhos, Hein, Cirjan, Edwards
Clubs with deep pockets will be surveying events at the Emirates with plenty of intrigue on Thursday as a host of highly rated prospects take to the field. Chief among them will be Cody Gakpo, who has 24 goal involvements in 18 games across all competitions this season. The Dutch forward is wanted by Leeds United and Manchester United whilst Arsenal themselves have taken a close interest in the 23 year old.
"I always said if I stay here, it's my childhood club," Gakpo told The Times of London this week, in an interview where he revealed he had spoken to Erik ten Hag about moving to Manchester United. "It's not a punishment.I like being here, I want to win trophies here and do my best for the club.
"But if I got the chance to go to the Premier League or something, of course I would have to consider that option. At that time it was hectic for me but I recovered pretty quickly."
Competing on two fronts seemed to have already taken plenty out of Arsenal legs on Sunday as they clambered to victory away to Leeds. What they could really do with is having Group A wrapped up as swiftly as possible, allowing them to blood youngsters and fringe players in the remainder of their Europa League games. Since they last played in this competition the value of top spot has only increased, coming as it does with a bye into the last 16.
"In Europe when you have the chance to take advantage you have to do it," said Mikel Arteta. "It's always very unpredictable what can happen in the next game. You have to go away and we know the level of the other teams as well. What I can say watching them [PSV] and what they are doing domestically, internationally, [it will be] a really tough match."
Date: Thursday, Oct. 20 | Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Emirates Stadium -- London
TV and live stream: Paramount+
Odds: Arsenal -200; Draw +350; PSV +480 (via Caesars Sportsbook)
Arsenal can book their passage to the next round of Europa League play with a victory over PSV. Mikel Arteta will have a few late fitness tests for Gabriel Martinelli and Oleksandr Zinchenko but even without the duo, Arteta has been able to lean on his depth players in the competition. Follow along for updates during the entire match.
