Arsenal lose tight encounter

PSV 1 Arsenal 0

Arsenal's hopes of progressing towards a second successive Champions League final suffered a knockback tonight as they lost at PSV Eindhoven.

The Gunners never really hit top gear in the Philips Stadion, where chances were at a premium.

In the end, it was a fine long-range effort from Ecuador midfielder Edison Mendez on the hour which settled matters - and gave the Dutch league leaders a slender advantage to take back to Emirates Stadium in a fortnight's time.

For the Gunners, there is now little chance to reflect on this result as they prepare for Sunday's Carling Cup final against Chelsea at the Millennium Stadium.

Cesc Fabregas almost opened up the PSV defence during the first few minutes with a lively run to the edge of the penalty area.

At the other end, Brazil forward Diego Tardelli got ahead of Philippe Senderos, however, keeper Jens Lehmann was out quickly to smother the loose ball.

With 13 minutes gone, Arsenal almost snatched the lead.

Thierry Henry fed Tomas Rosicky with a neat one-two on the left side of the area, and the Czech midfielder dashed clear.

His low, angled shot was well saved by Gomes - and Carlos Salcido was on hand to hack the ball off the PSV line.

Senderos headed wide from a corner on the right as the Barclays Premiership club looked to press home their spell of dominance.

PSV, however, were soon back on the offensive.

Lehmann was grateful to see a long-range effort from Mendez fly straight at him on 20 minutes.

Henry sent a looping effort over the bar from 20 yards as Arsenal moved through the gears, but without really troubling the PSV backline.

As the half-hour mark approached, home skipper Phillip Cocu made space for himself on the edge of the Gunners penalty area.

However, his attempted lob was plucked out of the air by Lehmann.

Rosicky almost then bent in a 20-yard effort when cutting inside from the left.

Henry's low centre towards Adebayor in the six-yard box was cut out and put behind for a corner, which came to nothing - just about summing up the evening for Arsenal so far.

The French striker then took it upon himself to try to get his side in front with a determined run and shot from the edge of the area.

However, the effort lacked any real pace to trouble Gomes.

A fine move involving Rosicky after 43 minutes saw the ball break to Henry just inside the penalty area.

This time, he got plenty on a volleyed effort - but it was straight at Gomes, who beat the ball away.

Arsenal started the second half brightly, but again lacked a decisive pass when in the final third.

In the 52nd minute William Gallas got clear on the overlap down the right, but his chip across the area was easily cleared at the near post.

PSV then created a decent opening.

Tardelli floated the ball over from the left, and into the path of Arouna Kone. However, the Ivory Coast striker dragged his shot across goal and wide.

As the hour mark passed, the PSV fans - many of whom had been enjoying the town's pre-Lent 'Carnaval' festivities - began to find their voice.

The team responded, with the Arsenal backline continually pressed.

It was no surprise when PSV took the lead after 61 minutes.

Mendez was given time and space some 25 yards out to line up a fierce low strike.

Lehmann dived full stretch to his right - but although he got a hand to it, the German could not keep it out.

The Dutch side made a change when defender Manuel Da Costa was replaced by Xiang Sun, who made his Champions League debut - a first in the competition by a Chinese player.

After 69 minutes, Fabregas saw a stinging 18-yard effort tipped over by Gomes as the Gunners went in search of an equaliser.

With 15 minutes left, Alexander Hleb was replaced by Julio Baptista as Wenger looked to up Arsenal's attacking threat.

Alex bundled over Henry to give the visitors a free-kick in a dangerous position, just right of centre, 23 yards out. Gomes, though, smothered Baptista's low drive.

Despite plenty of possession during the closing stages, an equaliser just would not come.