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Arsenal suffered their first setback of the 2022/23 Europa League after falling to a 2-0 defeat to PSV Eindhoven in Group A on Thursday.
THE LOWDOWN: POOR OUTING
The Gunners only needed a point in the Netherlands to book their place in the last 16 for next March, but Joey Veerman’s first-time finish from 16 yards and a header by substitute Luuk de Jong – after a mistake by Aaron Ramsdale on his European debut – meant that Mikel Arteta’s side lost in Europe for the first time this season.
Arsenal had been faultless in Europe this season after four wins out of four, including a narrow 1-0 win over PSV at the Emirates Stadium last week.
This was their biggest test to date in the group stage, and they were second best as PSV – who included Everton loanee Jarrad Branthwaite in the centre of defence – produced a dominant performance in front of their home fans.
Cody Gakpo and 19-year-old former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Xavi Simons caused the Gunners’ defence all sorts of problems, with the duo having two goals and one ruled offside respectively.
Arsenal were living dangerously and it was no surprise when Veerman swept the hosts ahead before De Jong struck after Ramsdale failed to connect while trying to clear a corner.
By the end, Arsenal finished with substitutes Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Thomas Partey on the pitch, but they were unable to rescue a point.
WHAT IT MEANS
Having won eight successive games in all competitions, Arsenal have now failed to win their past two, including a bore draw against Southampton last time out in the Premier League.
They remain favourites to finish top of the group, but Arteta now seems unlikely to be in a position to rest key players before the heavyweight London derby at Chelsea on 6 November after a second defeat in 16 games this season.
Arsenal have no time to lick their wounds, though, as a tricky tie awaits against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Sunday.
The Gunners saw their 10-game unbeaten run come to an end in disappointing fashion, and a 2-0 defeat to PSV means they must wait until their final Europa League game to clinch top spot. They have somewhat dropped the pace in their last few games and perhaps a reality check is on the cards?
After a shock 1-0 victory against Liverpool last time out, Forest will be aiming to compound the Gunners’ recent woes, but history is on the side of the hosts.
Arsenal haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of their last 10 Premier League home games, but they have won the last eight in a row at the Emirates. In English top-flight history, only one team has ever won nine consecutive home games while conceding each time, with Aston Villa doing so in their first nine games all the way back in 1888/89.
