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A 1-1 draw with PSV Eindhoven brought Arsenal’s Champions League group campaign to a close on Tuesday.
The Gunners had already secured first place heading into the game, and so with nothing on the line, Mikel Arteta went for a mixed lineup that included his first-choice centre-backs, fringe first-teamers and not a single academy talent, and fans were less than impressed.
I am not watching that Arsenal lineup play football๐คฎ
โ Charles (@charlesoduntan) December 12, 2023
Arsenal losing today What is that lineup ๐๐
โ Blockboy (@gungun150) December 12, 2023
I like Arsenal lineup. Giving us something different in a match that looks like a preseason match but i think he should have given one of the academy players chance, pairing Walters with Saliba or Nwanneri and Jorginho. This guy’s will give them all the freedom they need to shine
โ ๐ป๐๐ช๐ค๐ฅ๐๐ฃ ๐ (@DaystarSnr) December 12, 2023
Those who declined to watch may have felt justified early on as PSV were on top for the majority of the first half.
Arsenal did, however, grow into the game and even took the lead heading into the break as Eddie Nketiah’s low drive proved too accurate for Walter Benitez in the PSV net.
What a finish from Nketiah ๐๐ผ
โ Sir Dennis (@Sir_Dennis10) December 12, 2023
Eddie Nketiah, even if nobody knows the potential you have, Iโll never let them forget. Once you are the starting striker for a club at 28, youโre gonna get that Watkins bomba ๐๐ฟ
โ TRAVIS SCOTT PILGRIM (@isthatscully) December 12, 2023
There Eddie Nketiah goes again making his contract renewal seem worth it but he needs to go๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ
โ Havertzian๐ฅท๐พ (@king__will97) December 12, 2023
PSV needed just five second-half minutes to do what they failed to accomplish in the first as they cut right through the heart of Arsenal’s lineup and tied things up through Yorbe Vertessen.
Equaliser by Vertessen. That was no chance for Ramsdale. Too early to look down. The 2nd half has just started. #COYG ! #PSVARS #GoonerFamily #UCL #WOWOW
โ Aoki Masaru (@mazzy0108) December 12, 2023
PSV equaliser. 1-1. All too easy. Straight through the middle of us.
โ Tad Swar (@tadswar) December 12, 2023
While Arsenal were definitely in a battle, fans were never concerned as the result of this game meant nothing. They had topped spot wrapped up and were instead hoping to celebrate some meaningful minutes for the likes of Ethan Nwaneri and Reuell Walters.
Instead, supporters watched on as Arteta brought Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard and Ben White off the bench, risking the fitness of three key starters in pursuit of an utterly meaningless victory.
Arreta bringing on Rice. What a crook
โ .. (@BodegaaCat) December 12, 2023
๐จ Declan Rice is playing CB.
โ Eduardo Hagn (@EduardoHagn) December 12, 2023
Rice, White & รdegaard? Yeah these youngsters are getting no minutes
โ cmbftbl (@cmbftbl) December 12, 2023
Ultimately, it all meant very little for Arsenal, who were relatively comfortable as they saw out a draw to bring their group stage to a close.
Iโd love for someone to ask Arteta if risking a bunch of starting XI players was really worth it for a draw.
โ MadLou (@Arsenal_HP) December 12, 2023
Professional result but should be a clean sheet. Ready for the knockouts. Congratulations Arsenal. Should be a win but a draw is fine. But knockout football starts. #AFC #PSVARS #UCL #ChampionsLeague
โ Husca (@ukvm2) December 12, 2023
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