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PSV Eindhoven host Arsenal in the final matchday of the Champions League group stages with both teams having already qualified for the next stage of the competition.
Mikel Arteta’s side have won four of their five matches so far, putting them top of Group B and giving them an unassailable lead of four points. PSV are second in the table but as they have a better head-to-head record than Lens they cannot lose that spot despite what happens tonight.
Though this match has seemingly low stakes, there are potential avenues both managers can explore. Arteta will no doubt make some personnel changes, to keep his squad fresh and give game time and exeprience to those that need it.
Ending the group stages with a win can also build momentum for the last-16. On paper Arsenal should have a friendlier draw but with Arteta wanting to prove his team’s credentials in Europe he won’t be taking anything for granted.
Follow all the match action below plus get the latest odds and tips right here:
Arsenal stunned by Unai Emery’s early trick as Aston Villa join the title race
Mikel Arteta looked down from above as his predecessor stole the stage and Aston Villa joined Arsenal in the title race. Unai Emery’s side extended their club-record home winning run to 15 consecutive matches after adding the second of two of the finest victories Villa Park has staged within the same week.
Triumphant against the champions on Wednesday, Villa knocked down the side who started the weekend as leaders on Saturday night. Though those wins may share the elements of magnitude and scoreline, they could hardly have been more different in how they were achieved.
Villa’s energy and commitment was superb but Arsenal were wasteful and allowed three points and the chance to extend their lead over Manchester City to slip away.
With Arteta suspended from the touchline, Arsenal were unable to produce another late goal and the manager departed the directors box seconds before the final whistle after Kai Havertz’s equaliser was disallowed for handball. Moments later, Emery was dancing down the touchline, having beaten the club who sacked him after 18 months for the second time and first since his return to the Premier League.
Arsenal stunned by Unai Emery’s early trick as Aston Villa join the title race
Aston Villa 1-0 Arsenal: John McGinn scored the only goal of the game – but the Gunners had two ruled out
PSV vs Arsenal
Arsenal have scored in each of their last 22 Champions League group stage matches, since a 2-0 loss against Borussia Dortmund in September 2014.
No side has netted more Champions League goals than them this season, while only twice have they scored more in a single group stage than their 15 this term (18 in both 2010/11 and 2016/17).
PSV vs Arsenal
PSV have won their last two Champions League matches, as many as they had in their previous 22 (D9 L11). They last won three in a row in the 2006/07 group stages, in a campaign they would eventually reach the quarter-final after eliminating Arsenal.
The Dutch side are unbeaten on home soil in the Champions League this season, last going a full group stage undefeated at home in 2015/16 under Phillip Cocu, when they won all three games.
PSV vs Arsenal
The Gunners are winless in their last three major European visits to the Netherlands since a 2-1 win at Ajax in September 2005 in the Champions League.
Two of those defeats have come against PSV.
PSV vs Arsenal
Arsenal have faced PSV in competitive action on nine occasions, with seven in the Champions League as well as last season’s two encounters in the Europa League.
They have only lost two of those games, but both have on each of their last two visits to the Philips Stadion.
Arsenal pick ‘three big prospects’ for Champions League match at PSV
Mikel Arteta has picked three rising talents from Arsenal’s Hale End academy to join the senior squad on their Champions League trip to PSV.
Reuell Walters, Ethan Nwaneri and Lino Sousa have travelled with the group and could make their Arsenal debuts in the dead rubber, with both clubs already qualified to the knockout phase and the Gunners assured of top spot in Group B.
Asked if it has become harder to blood youngsters while challenging for honours, the Spaniard replied: “It gets harder and harder. So the talent has to be really good. (They are) three big prospects. We want to keep developing players from our system. They deserve to be here. There are circumstances that have brought them here. We will try to give them the opportunity if we can in the right moment.”
Arsenal pick ‘three big prospects’ for Champions League match at PSV
Mikel Arteta can afford to experiment thanks to the Gunners’ unassailable position at the top of Group B
Arteta’s thoughts on PSV
The Arsenal manager also gave his thoughts on how he feels PSV will play this evening saying: “It’s really impressive how [PSV] play, the consistency, the way they are winning football matches.
“They’ve been extremely dominant, not only this season but last season as well and huge credit to the manager, the coaching staff and players for what they’ve done.
“When you look at the record that they have here, it’s incredible so we’re going to have to be really good tomorrow to beat them.”
Arteta on Smith Rowe
Injuries have caused Emile Smith Rowe’s Arsenal career into a screeching half but the manager is backing him to perform when he is given minutes on the pitch.
“I think what he’s been through is part of the experience that 90 per cent of footballers have to go through.” Arteta said,
“Difficulties, injuries, setbacks and different types of performances now. That’s all in his bag now. If he can use that in a powerful way he’ll be a much better player.
“The way he’s done his rehab, I haven’t seen him do it before like how he’s done it this time. You see the way his team-mates reacted to his comeback which is really positive as well. The moment we can give him chances, the better we’re going to be.”
PSV’s super sub could trouble Arsenal
American striker Ricardo Pepi is fast becoming something of a ‘super sub’ for PSV Eindhoven.
The 20-year-old has scored six times this season despite having only been on the pitch for a total of 239 minutes. That equates to a goal every 40 minutes.
Pepi’s most valuable strike so far was against Sevilla on Matchday 5, the forward scoring the dramatic late winner after coming on in the 82nd minute.
Arsenal team changes
Mikel Arteta makes eight changes to the Arsenal team that lost 1-0 to Aston Villa last time out. The Gunners have already reached the Champions League last-16 so the manager is choosing not to risk most of his key players from the start.
Aaron Ramsdale starts in goal with Jakuk Kiwior and Cedric Soares at left and right back. In midfield Mohamed Elneny, Jorginho and Leandro Trossard take up their positions as Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah join Kai Havertz in the forward line.
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