Arteta makes a statement in selection as his team make theirs on the pitch
Arsenal 4 PSV Eindhoven 0
Champions League Group B Matchday One
Wednesday 20th September 2023 8pm
It’s been a while. Arsenal last took part in the group stage of the Champions League in the final months of 2016, and seven years on, elite European competition returned to the Emirates in the shape of a group game against some familiar opposition – PSV Eindhoven. They’d played the Gunners in the group stage of the Europa League last season, defeating them 2-0 in Eindhoven. Arteta’s team had won 1-0 in a re-arranged fixture at home, but last night the margin of victory, and on-field supremacy, was significantly better.
The main talking point in the team selection was that David Raya started again, after making his debut against Everton last weekend. It was a clear indication that the number one spot is his to lose, there’s to be no policy of rotating between the Premier League and Europe, and it seems likely Aaron Ramsdale’s future participation will be in domestic cup games, unless there are any dead rubbers in the European group stage. It’s ruthless but appears to be the kind of decision that pushes a team on. No sentiment.
Going forward, Raya’s goalkeeping will be tested more that it has been in his first two outings, although he has coped ably with what has been thrown at him so far. And his distribution is better than the man he replaced, which is a fundamental for the manager. The stats from last season indicate that Raya is a better keeper, although I thought he’d have to wait for a Ramsdale howler before getting his chance. Evidently not. As Leno was dropped early on in Ramsdale’s first season, so it has happened in turn to one of the most popular players at the club. Assuming this remains the situation, you can only imagine he will accept a move next summer, because he’s too good a keeper to be sitting on the bench for more than a season.
There were two changes from the Everton starting eleven. No surprise that Trossard began the game with Martinelli injured, and Kai Havertz regained his starting spot from Fabio Vieira. The game was done and dusted by half-time, with goals before 10, 20 and 40 minutes had been played. Saka, Trossard and Jesus were the scorers, as PSV were ripped apart. At times, it was exhibition stuff. The rain was constant and would have done no harm to the speed of the home side’s football.
The second half saw a further addition to the scoresheet when Odegaard made it four just over halfway through. Reiss Nelson, Tomiyasu, Smith Rowe, Vieira and Jorginho all saw some gametime as subs and the game tailed off, allowing the early leavers to depart without fear of missing anything significant, unlike against Manchester United.
In terms of analysis, there’s not much to say, so this is a relatively short blog. What we can conclude is that Arsenal are set fair to qualify from a group you’d expect them to, the draw in Sevilla against Lens doing no harm to their chances of finishing first. I did find it interesting to get a message from a friend saying they found it hard to get interested in the Champions League group stage, even after the long absence. I guess that’s because Arsenal always seem to get through and there is not too much tension.
Next season sees a change in format, so we won’t see such group games again, and Arsenal will face eight teams rather than three before the knockout stage. It’s called the Swiss Model and means two more games, more TV and more sponsorship income before things get seriously interesting. Let’s at least just hope the matches before Christmas become more interesting too. At least there is more variety of opposition and an extra away trip to choose from. And I believe a decent chance that fifth place in the Premier League will mean Champions League football going forward, if English sides continue to be successful.
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