Premier League leaders Arsenal have to “reset” after losing to PSV Eindhoven and missing the chance to seal top spot in Europa League Group A, says boss Mikel Arteta.
The Gunners only needed a point in the Netherlands to advance to the last 16 next March.
But Joey Veerman’s first-time finish from 16 yards and a header by substitute Luuk de Jong – after a mistake by keeper Aaron Ramsdale on his European debut – meant Arsenal lost in Europe for the first time this season.
“I’m very disappointed,” added Arteta.
“We were nowhere near our level and we know that in Europe it’s very difficult to win. I saw a number of the boys running out of energy because we had to chase the ball so much.
“It’s the end of a long run where we won a lot of games and we have to reset.”
PSV, managed by former Manchester United forward Ruud van Nistelrooy, also had three goals ruled out for offside as Arsenal were well beaten.
The Gunners need to beat Zurich, who they defeated 2-1 in Switzerland on 8 September, in their final group game next Thursday at Emirates Stadium (20:00 GMT) to guarantee a place in the last 16.
If they fail to win and PSV beat Bodo/Glimt in Norway, Arsenal will face two extra games in the knockout round playoffs, which teams that finish third in their Champions League groups, including Barcelona, also drop into.
Gunners fail biggest Euro test to date
Arsenal had been pretty much faultless in Europe this season after four wins out of four, including a narrow 1-0 win over PSV at Emirates Stadium last week.
This was their biggest test to date on the continent, yet they were second best as PSV – who included Jarrad Branthwaite, on loan from Everton, in the centre of defence – produced a dominant performance in front of their own fans.
Cody Gakpo and 19-year-old former Paris St-Germain midfielder Xavi Simons caused the Gunners defence all sorts of problems. Gakpo had two goals ruled out for offside and Simons one.
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.
“We didn’t get any control,” added Arteta. “We didn’t get the ball in the areas we wanted. We gave so many balls away, which allowed so many transitions.”
Having won eight successive games in all competitions, Arteta’s side have now failed to win their past two.
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.
Player of the match
de JongLuuk de Jong
PSV Eindhoven
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Squad number9Player namede JongAverage rating
7.70
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Squad number22Player nameBranthwaiteAverage rating
7.70
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Squad number11Player nameGakpo
Average rating7.50
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Squad number7Player nameSimons
Average rating7.26
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Squad number23Player nameVeerman
Average rating7.09
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Squad number10Player nameMadueke
Average rating7.06
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Squad number17Player nameMauro Júnior
Average rating7.04
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Squad number6Player nameSangaré
Average rating6.83
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Squad number5Player nameAndré Ramalho
Average rating6.73
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Squad number31Player nameMax
Average rating6.69
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Squad number21Player nameEl Ghazi
Average rating6.63
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Squad number3Player nameTeze
Average rating6.61
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Squad number29Player nameMwene
Average rating6.60
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Squad number1Player nameBenítez
Average rating6.57
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Squad number15Player nameGutiérrez
Average rating6.54
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Squad number20Player nameTil
Average rating6.42
Arsenal
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Squad number3Player nameTierneyAverage rating
5.29
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Squad number11Player nameGabriel MartinelliAverage rating
4.64
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Squad number12Player nameSalibaAverage rating
4.61
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Squad number34Player nameXhakaAverage rating
4.61
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Squad number18Player nameTomiyasuAverage rating
4.56
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Squad number8Player nameØdegaardAverage rating
4.43
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Squad number16Player nameHoldingAverage rating
4.33
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Squad number1Player nameRamsdaleAverage rating
4.29
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Squad number9Player nameGabriel JesusAverage rating
4.23
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Squad number21Player nameFábio VieiraAverage rating
4.17
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Squad number7Player nameSakaAverage rating
3.95
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Squad number4Player nameWhiteAverage rating
3.93
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Squad number5Player nameParteyAverage rating
3.92
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Squad number23Player nameSambi LokongaAverage rating
3.90
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Squad number14Player nameNketiahAverage rating
3.80
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Squad number6Player nameGabriel MagalhãesAverage rating
3.80
Line-ups
PSV Eindhoven
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Benítez
- 29MweneBooked at 68mins
- 5Ramalho Silva
- 22BranthwaiteSubstituted forTezeat 81′minutes
- 31Max
- 6Sangaré
- 15Gutiérrez
- 21El GhaziSubstituted forde Jongat 45′minutes
- 23VeermanSubstituted forTilat 81′minutes
- 11GakpoSubstituted forMauro Júniorat 84′minutes
- 7SimonsBooked at 80minsSubstituted forMaduekeat 80′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Hoever
- 3Teze
- 4Obispo
- 8van Ginkel
- 9de Jong
- 10Madueke
- 16Drommel
- 17Mauro Júnior
- 20Til
- 24Waterman
- 27Bakayoko
- 37Ledezma
Arsenal
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Ramsdale
- 18TomiyasuSubstituted forWhiteat 74′minutes
- 12Saliba
- 16HoldingSubstituted forGabriel Jesusat 64′minutesBooked at 79mins
- 3TierneyBooked at 58minsSubstituted forGabrielat 74′minutes
- 8ØdegaardSubstituted forSakaat 57′minutes
- 23Sambi LokongaSubstituted forParteyat 56′minutes
- 34XhakaBooked at 80mins
- 21Fábio Vieira
- 14Nketiah
- 11MartinelliBooked at 67mins
Substitutes
- 4White
- 5Partey
- 6Gabriel
- 7Saka
- 9Gabriel Jesus
- 17Cédric Soares
- 24Nelson
- 31Hein
- 44Cirjan
- 72Smith
- 89Ibrahim
- Referee:
- Marco Di Bello
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, PSV Eindhoven 2, Arsenal 0.
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Second Half ends, PSV Eindhoven 2, Arsenal 0.
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Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Érick Gutiérrez (PSV Eindhoven).
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Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Mauro Júnior.
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Attempt blocked. Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by André Ramalho.
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Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Mauro Júnior (PSV Eindhoven).
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Corner, PSV Eindhoven. Conceded by Gabriel Magalhães.
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Foul by Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal).
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Luuk de Jong (PSV Eindhoven) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Philipp Max (PSV Eindhoven).
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Substitution, PSV Eindhoven. Mauro Júnior replaces Cody Gakpo.
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Foul by Thomas Partey (Arsenal).
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Guus Til (PSV Eindhoven) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Substitution, PSV Eindhoven. Guus Til replaces Joey Veerman.
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Substitution, PSV Eindhoven. Jordan Teze replaces Jarrad Branthwaite.
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Granit Xhaka (Arsenal) is shown the yellow card.