FOR a game that on paper meant nothing, there was plenty of risk and reward at stake.
First, the risk. Boss Mikel Arteta made eight changes for this Champions League group stage dead rubber in Eindhoven yet decided to start both William Saliba and Gabriel at the back.
Eddie Nketiah gave Arsenal the lead in Holland just before half time
Yorbe Vertessen got PSV level with a fine finish past Aaron Ramsdale
Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale looked up as the ball hit the post from Ismael Saibari’s shot
The strange line-up of Arsenal
Defensive injuries played a part in Arteta’s decision-making, but it was certainly a gamble not to rest either of them, especially considering Saliba’s influence and impact on this team.
Paranoid Arsenal fans were at least happy to see the Frenchman brought off in the 61st minute, only for Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard and Ben White to make surprise entrances.
Gabriel Jesus and Emile Smith Rowe followed. Just imagine the furore had Bukayo Saka – carrying a foot knock – been subbed on as well in a match of zero consequence?
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Thankfully, Arteta’s risk paid off. The Gunners’ medical team had a fairly quiet night and Eddie Nketiah went on to score his first Champions League goal in the 42nd minute.
The match itself drifted along, threatening occasionally to spark into life. Arteta wanted to finish the group stages on a high and in style, with neither coming to fruition.
PSV – the only side in Europe’s top 55 leagues with a 100 per cent domestic winning record – were mightily impressive at times and were rewarded with a goal from Yorbe Vertessen just after the break to earn a point.
Among the changes for Arsenal was game time for a number of fringe players in need of some time out on the grass, including Mohamed Elneny, Reiss Nelson and Cedric Soares.
Aaron Ramsdale was handed a rare start, his first in this competition, and a chance to impress with David Raya’s No1 status under minor scrutiny in recent weeks.
In the sixth minute, Ramsdale should have been picking a ball out of his net. A fine sweeping move from the hosts saw Johan Bakayoko pick out Patrick van Aanholt in the box.
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Ramsdale, Van Aanholt and Saliba all collided in their efforts, the ball popping out to Ricardo Pepi – one of five changes to this PSV team – but his effort was somehow cleared off the line by Gabriel.
After that, Bakayoko skips around Leandro Trossard and Jakub Kiwior, he fired a lethal shot off his left boot just wide. Later, in a carbon-copy move, he forced Ramsdale to tip around his post.
PSV were dominating, loving life on the counter, only to fall behind as Arsenal briefly woke up to produce an undeserving quality move involving Cedric and Nelson, finished by Nketiah with a low drive through the legs of Andre Ramalho, off the post and into the opposite corner.
Arsenal continued to invite more pressure in the second half however, Vertessen curling one wide before a second attempt in the 50th minute connected with the woodwork and in.
Cedric and Saliba were at fault, the former caught out of position and the latter fluffing a diving interception.
Off went Saliba. On came the cavalry, with Rice deputising at centre back.
Elneny was one of those taken off, struggling with muscular fatigue – unsurprising given he had played just 10 minutes of football this season before this one.
One of the few shining lights for Arsenal was Nelson. Lively and direct, he beat two defenders but smashed a big chance into the side-netting.
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Up the other end, Ramsdale showed his worth with a superb fingertip reaction stop onto the post to deny Ismael Saiberi from a tight angle.
Arsenal thought they had snatched three points in the 81st minute with Kiwior heading home from an Odegaard free-kick. The offside flag was correctly raised with Gabriel interfering with play.
Arteta could not have complained had Guus Til taken his glaring chance in injury time, and then had his head in his hands with Trossard somehow missing from close range with the last kick.
Two sequences that summed up this meaningless contest.