Weird and wonderful Arsenal draw with PSV but easily progress
Arsenal's Declan Rice, centre, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's second goal against PSV. Pic: AP Photo/Alastair Grant
Whatever Mikel Arteta claims, starting a Champions League last 16 tie with three left-backs in his line-up was definitely not part of the masterplan he presented to the Arsenal hierarchy to convince them he should be their new manager five years ago. Shame because it proved to be a masterstroke as one of his defensive trio, Oleksandr Zinchenko, snuffed out whatever little life there was left in this tie when he scored a stunning goal after only six minutes to put Arsenal 8-1 ahead on aggregate.
The Ukraine international refused to celebrate and offered a wave of apology to the Dutch fans having played 12 games on loan for the Eindhoven side early in his career. He also often plays for his country in midfield, so is no stranger to the more advanced role manager Arteta demanded of him. Similarly, Scotland international Kieran Tierney is great going forward too so starting on the wing did not look totally alien either. Myles Lewis-Skelly, who actually started in the left-back role, has played all of his football in midfield before breaking through as an emergency defender through Arsenal’s myriad of injury crises this season.
And, of course, Arteta would not have flirted with such a weird and wonderful side – which included the not so mobile midfielder Mikel Merino as his sole striker - had his men not scored seven in last week’s first leg in Holland. The luxury of such a glorious goal gap allowed him to make seven changes from the side that drew so disappointingly at Manchester United on Sunday.
One of these changes featured a comeback for right-back Ben White. Understandably, he looked a bit ring rusty following knee surgery and his first start since 10 November and was caught up field when Ivan Perisic sent the already bouncing Eindhoven fans into celebratory dreamland when a classy 18th minute equaliser. Just another six to score to try and take the tie to extra-time!
The Dutch side would have sold their ticket allocation well before the first leg drubbing and constantly out sung an Arsenal crowd showing large gaps in the upper decks of the stadium, where many seats remained vacant. Unsurprisingly, especially with category A prices, Arsenal struggled to sell out after winning the first leg so emphatically.
Those in attendance were loving it, however, and no more so than when Declan Rice headed Arsenal back into the lead on the night. Raheem Sterling, enjoying a rare start on the right flank had already assisted Zinchenko for his goa, and looked something like his old confident self when he pinged in an inch perfect 18th minute cross for Rice to head in his second goal in two games.
The poor Chelsea loan player was less self-assured when through on goal on his own soon after and had his attempt at a chipped shot blocked by keeper Walter Benitez. If only he played with the carefree coolness displayed by Morocco youth international Couhaib Driouech when he chipped David Raya to level on the night with 20 minutes to go.
With a distinct lack of jeopardy in the air a fair number of Arsenal fans had begun to make their way to the bars, grab an early tube home or go and find a screen to watch the climax of the Madrid derby taking place in Spain to determine whether they face the might of Real or Atletico in the quarter-final in April.
Those still here, and it was by far the majority of the crowd, gave Zinchenko a standing ovation when he was replaced by Martin Odegaard for the final ten minutes or so. Jurrien Timber and Gabriel Martinelli also got a few minutes in their legs ahead of Sunday’s Premier League visit of London rivals Chelsea.
Sterling capped off a mixed night when he failed to convert another good chance late on and then picked up a booking which means he will be banned for the home leg against Madrid.
Raya 8, White 6 (Timber 79), Kiwior 5, Gabriel 7, Lewis-Skelly 6, Jorginho 6, Rice 7 (Calafiori 64), Zinchenko 6 (Odegaard 79), Sterling 6, Tierney 6 (Martinelli 79), Merino 6 (Trossard 64).Â
Benitez 6, Ledezma 6, Obispo 6 (Boscagli 69), Nagalo 6 (Flamingo 77), Malacia 6, Schouten 5 (Veerman 46), Babadi 6, Til 6, Driouech 6 (Bajraktarevic 80), Perisic 6 (De Jong 68), Bakayoko 6.Â
Rade Obrenovic 6
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