It was honours even for Arsenal and PSG after an enthralling ninety minutes of action. Edinson Cavani continued his fantastic goalscoring form, tapping into an empty net to give the French side the lead. The Gunners responded, though, and levelled proceedings through an Olivier Giroud penalty on the stroke of half-time.
Arsene Wenger’s men came flying out of the blocks in the second half and took the game to PSG as they searched for a winner. It looked to have arrived when Marquinhos’ clearance struck Verratti and ended up in the back of the net. It was not to be for Wenger’s men, however, as a shocking piece of defending from Alex Iwobi allowed a Lucas header to nestle in the goal for PSG’s equaliser.
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Unai Emery’s side arguably had the better chances to win the game, but like in the first leg, their finishing let them down. Ultimately, the French side will be the happier, though, as they now sit on top of group A going into the final game week, courtesy their superior head to head over Arsenal.
On that note, take a look at 5 of the most important talking points from the match:
#1 Penalty shouts galore
Arsenal had a shout for a penalty when Aaron Ramsey took a tumble under pressure from Thiago Silva. The referee, however, was having none of it and the game progressed. Just minutes later, it was Alexis Sanchez who fell to the turf and this time, the referee, with some help from his assistant, pointed to the spot much to the horror of the PSG players.
On seeing the replay, it was clear that Krychowiak made no contact whatsoever with the Chilean and that Sanchez had taken a clear dive. Olivier Giroud went on to convert, and Arsenal went into the break level.
The second half saw a couple more claims for spot kicks as Edinson Cavani was sent sprawling under pressure from Laurent Koscielny. Again, nothing was given, and this time, the referee made the right decision as Koscielny hardly touched the Uruguayan. Arsenal had another shout when a Ramsey strike hit Matuidi’s shoulder, but yet again, nothing was given.
#2 Olivier Giroud continues to deliver
Giroud has been somewhat of a super sub of late having scored 3 in his last three games off the bench including the last minute header against Manchester United to give Arsenal an undeserved point.
The Frenchman was handed a start, however, and he took full advantage of it by scoring Arsenal’s equaliser in the final minute of the first half. Giroud stepped up to take the penalty won by Alexis Sanchez and made no mistake as he sent the keeper the wrong way.
Giroud did have a couple of half chances that were well blocked by the PSG defenders, but if he continues in this vein, it is going to be hard for Arsene Wenger to continue to overlook the 30-year-old.
#3 Edinson Cavani’s mixed bag
Cavani has been in sensational form for PSG this season apart from the game against Arsenal at Parc des Princes. That form looked set to continue when he tapped Matuidi’s cross into the back of the net early in the first half.
That, however, would be the Uruguayan’s best moment of the game as it only went downhill from then on. Cavani missed chance after chance including two sitters in the second half. The Uruguayan decided to take a dive in the hopes of winning a penalty rather than rounding the keeper and finishing.
The 29-year-old was then set free behind the Arsenal defence with only the keeper to beat and tried to dink Ospina, but his attempt lacked power and settled in the arms of the keeper. It was a similar tale to the first leg where he missed at least four gilt-edged opportunities to give his side all 3 points. While PSG still look poised to claim top spot, anything can happen on the final matchday and PSG will only have him to blame if they fall at the final hurdle.
#4 A game of four quarters
The term quarter is usually associated with basketball but today’s game showed that it could apply to the ‘Beautiful Game’ as well. PSG took the game to Arsenal in the early stages and got their just reward when Cavani netted in the 18th minute. Unai Emery’s men had the chance to go further ahead but spurned a couple of half chances.
At around the 25-minute mark, Arsenal began to fight back and found some of the passing and incisiveness that was missing in the opening minutes. Olivier Giroud’s equaliser on the stroke of half-time meant that both teams went into the break level, although the first half was shaded by PSG.
The Gunners were a different team in the second half, and they completely bossed proceedings in the early stages. Marco Verratti’s goal put Arsene Wenger’s men ahead on the hour mark, but their lead was short-lived as PSG rallied to equalise in the 77th minute.
Overall, PSG dominated the first twenty odd minutes, Arsenal the next 45 and PSG the final twenty.
#5 Both sides extend their unbeaten runs
Arsenal extended their unbeaten streak to 18 games in all competitions. The Gunners have not lost since their opening day defeat at home to Liverpool. However, three draws in their last three games have left them 4th in the Premier League and 2nd in their Champions League group.
PSG, too, are on a mini unbeaten streak having avoided defeat in their last ten games in all competitions. After a horror start to the season, Unai Emery’s side have been on the rise and look set to top group A as long as they match Arsenal’s result on the final matchday. PSG’s last defeat was away at Toulouse in the league, but they had won their previous four games coming into today's fixture.
