Arsenal face uphill battle to win group after PSG draw
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ByEurosport
Updated 23/11/2016 at 22:57 GMT
Champions League, Group A – Arsenal 2 (Giroud, 45 (P), Verratti 59 (O.G.)) PSG 2 (Cavani 18, Lucas Moura, 77)
PSG players celebrate after scoring against Arsenal
Image credit: AFP
Arsenal face an uphill task to finish top of Group A after Lucas Moura’s 77th-minute header gave PSG a 2-2 draw that puts then in the driving seat to finish top of the group.
Edinson Cavani, who scored for PSG in the first match between the two sides, put the away side ahead when he slotted home at the back post.
It seemed as if Arsene Wenger would pay for resting some key players like Petr Cech, but on the stroke of half-time Olivier Giroud converted a penalty with Arsenal's first shot on target of the half.
In the second half, Arsenal took the lead after pinball in the box saw Marco Verratti slot past his own 'keeper, but late on, terrible defending allowed Lucas Moura to nod in an equaliser at the back post.
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Arsenal's French striker Olivier Giroud, Arsenal's Nigerian striker Alex Iwobi, Arsenal's Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey and Arsenal's Chilean striker Alexis Sanchez celebrate after Paris Saint-Germain's Italian midfielder Marco Verratti scored an own goal
Image credit: AFP
To qualify top of their group, Arsenal now must top the group on points as PSG claim a better head-to-head record on away goals.
TALKING POINT
Why did Arsene Wenger rest players? There might be a case if they had exerted themselves against Manchester United, but Wenger decided to rest Petr Cech, who is the goalkeeper. Theo Walcott was also on the bench, and the generally ineffective Olivier Giroud was allowed to begin from the first whistle, while Granit Xhaka remained on the bench. With so much at stake in this match, it does not makes sense that Wenger risked it for minimal gain.
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Paris Saint-Germain's Italian midfielder Marco Verratti (R floor) reacts with Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian defender Marquinhos (L) after Verratti scored an own goal for Arsenal's second goal during the UEFA Champions League group A football match betwe
Image credit: AFP
MAN OF THE MATCH
Lucas Moura (PSG): This was a game where no one player was exceptionally effective, but Moura demonstrated why he was wanted by Alex Ferguson a few seasons ago. His threat from the wings, with his pace and passing, was on show, and he also clipped the crossbar. Edinson Cavani had his moments too, but he has to start converting more chances that are given to him.
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Paris Saint-Germain's Lucas Moura celebrates scoring their second
Image credit: Reuters
PLAYER RATINGS
Arsenal: Ospina 6, Gibbs 5, Koscielny 6, Mustafi 6, Jenkinson 6, Ramsey 5, Coquelin 6, Ozil 5, Sanchez 6, Iwobi 5, Giroud 6. Subs: Walcott 6, Oxlade-Chamberlain 6, Xhaka 6.
PSG: Areola 6, Silva 6, Marquinhos 6, Meunier 6, Maxwell 5, Krychowiak 5, Verratti 6, Lucas 7, Matudi 6, Motta 7, Cavani 7. Subs: Ben Arfa 7, Jese 6.
KEY MOMENTS
18' - GOAL! Arsenal 0-1 PSG. Cavani scores - Matuidi gets in behind Mustafi and the France midfielder slides the ball across the box, where Cavani is waiting to slot it home.
45' - PENALTY! Giroud wins the ball off PSG on the edge of the pitch. He finds Sanchez in the box, and Krychowiak then compounds the error by taking him down in the box.
45+2' GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 PSG. Giroud scores - A calm penalty from Giroud, slotting the ball to the keeper's right as he dived the other way.
54' - MOURA FREE KICK - Cavani runs over the ball, and Lucas clips a curling effort that flies wide of the goal and whips in violently to flick off the top of the goalframe.
60' - GOAL! Arsenal 2-1 PSG. Verratti own goal - Jenkinson's cross flicks to Ramsey, who puts in a poor shot that strikes Marquinhos. It bounces onto Verratti, who manages to put the ball past Areola after some pinball, and it's 2-1 to Arsenal..
76' - GOAL! Arsenal 2-2 PSG. Lucas scores - Corner for PSG on the left wing. Ben Arfa to take. It's a weird, deep cross that dips late and drops to Lucas. He nods gently towards goal, and Iwobi's terrible effort at blocking it, takes it away from Ospina.
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Arsenal's Nigerian striker Alex Iwobi (2R) reacts after deflecting the ball from Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian midfielder Lucas Moura's header for Paris's second goal during the UEFA Champions League group A football match between Arsenal and Paris Sain
Image credit: AFP
KEY STAT
- This was the first time a Champions League match finished with more goals than shots on target since Rangers vs Unirea Urziceni in October 2009.
- Edinson Cavani has scored eight goals in his 14 Champions League matches against English sides, though tonight’s strike was only his second on English soil.
- Only Lionel Messi (18) has scored more goals than Cavani (16) in all competitions among players in the big five European leagues this season.
- Olivier Giroud’s penalty was Arsenal’s first shot of any kind in the match.
- Giroud has scored with nine of his last 11 shots on target for Arsenal in all competitions, having scored with just two of his 22 before that.
- Arsenal are unbeaten in their four meetings with PSG, though three have ended in draws (W1).
- PSG have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 10 games against English clubs.
- Arsenal have scored 14 goals in the group stages so far – only in 2010-11 (15) have they scored more in their opening five Champions League group games.
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