After conveniently dispatching Lens at the Emirates a fortnight ago, the Gunners had already qualified for the round of sixteen as group winners. In a dead rubber clash with relatively low soccer odds as PSV Eindhoven had also qualified as runners up, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta resisted the urge to give some youngsters their European debut.
Promising midfielder Ethan Nwaneri, 16, impressed over the weekend by grabbing five goals against Crewe Alexandra in a Youth League match and had to make do with a place on the bench just as he did at the Emirates against Lens on Matchday five. Fellow youngsters, full-backs Lino Sousa and Reuell Walters, also watched on from the bench.
Arteta Rings The Changes With Qualification Secured
Mikel Arteta made eight changes to the side that lost 1-0 to Aston Villa at the weekend. Only Kia Harvertz, William Saliba, and Gabriel Magalhaes. They struggled to match the home side’s energy for the first 40 minutes until Eddie Nketiah controlled a Riess Nelson pass towards the end of the first half and slotted into the bottom corner.
Nketiah was making his first Champions League start, and out of favour, England international, Aaron Ramsdale was making his Champions League debut. Runaway Eredivisie leaders PSV leveled the scoreline five minutes after the break. The home side had not lost at home for almost two years.
Jakob Kiwior had a goal ruled out for offside after Gabriel Magalhaes was adjudged to be interfering with play from an offside position. Nketiah missed a glorious chance to clinch the 3 points in added time and Leandro Trossard couldn’t tuck home the rebound.
The focus for Arteta’s men shifts to the Premier League, with the club looking to avoid back-to-back defeats and keep pace with Liverpool when they visit Brighton on the weekend. Arsenal relinquished their two points lead at the top of the table after losing to Unai Emery’s Villa last time out.
“Rice At Center Back: An Experiment”
Speaking to BBC Sports after the match, manager Mikel Arteta defended his decision to bring on Declan Rice as a center back, stating that it was a needed experiment as Arsenal’s options in defense continue to thin, with Takehiro Tomiyasu joining the treatment room and Jurrien Timber still a few months away from an ACL injury he sustained on his Premier League debut in August.
Declan Rice started his breakthrough season at Westham as a defender, and Mikel Arteta will be keen to acclimate him to the position in case of injuries or suspensions. It wasn’t a position the England international was very comfortable with and it showed on the night. Arteta will be hoping he’ll have no reason to play the former Westham captain as a center-back.
Arsenal, making their first appearance in Europe’s elite club competition, made light work of the group stage, qualifying as group winners with a game to spare after winning four and losing one of their first five matches.
Arteta told the Arsenal official website that he was pleased with his team’s performance in the group stage, and felt they had competed well despite most of the squad appearing for the first time. They certainly do not appear rusty and they have experienced players in their midst.
Kai Harvertz and Jorginho are past winners with Chelsea, while Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus were part of the Manchester City side that lost to Chelsea two years ago. They would be hoping their experience rubs off on younger squad members like Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli who are marking their debut season in the prestigious tournament.
Arsenal will find out who their last 16 opponents are when the draw is made next Monday. For now, the soccer odds stakes are high with double-headed away clashes to Brighton and Liverpool on the horizon, and Arteta will hope to galvanize his squad to avoid losing more ground in the title race.
Focus Shifts To Brighton In EPL Matchday 16
Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Jesus, Declan Rice, and David Raya are all expected to return to the starting line up for the visit to the seagulls. However, Gabriel Martinelli is a slight doubt after being left out of the team to face PSV following an illness.
Although the Brazilian is yet to hit the heights of last season, Arsenal fans will be desperate for the 22-year-old attacker to be fit and bolster the team’s forward options against a Brighton side they traditionally struggle against.
Meanwhile, Eddie Nketiah will hope he did enough on Tuesday for his manager to trust him with a starting berth at the weekend. The Englishman has already scored 5 goals in the Premier League this season, which is his highest return in a season and he will be hoping to better it when next he takes to the pitch.
Arsenal won 4-2 at Brighton last season, with goals from Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Eddie Nketiah, and Gabriel Martinelli sealing the 3 points.