Football

X reacts as Arsenal battle to draw in final group game

Published

4m ago

Dec 13, 2023 / 797 Views

A 1-1 draw with PSV Eindhoven brought Arsenal's Champions League group campaign to a close on Tuesday.

The Gunners had already secured first place heading into the game, and so with nothing on the line, Mikel Arteta went for a mixed lineup that included his first-choice centre-backs, fringe first-teamers and not a single academy talent, and fans were less than impressed.

I am not watching that Arsenal lineup play football🤮
— Charles (@charlesoduntan) December 12, 2023

Arsenal losing today
What is that lineup 😂😂
— Blockboy (@gungun150) December 12, 2023

I like Arsenal lineup. Giving us something different in a match that looks like a preseason match but i think he should have given one of the academy players chance, pairing Walters with Saliba or Nwanneri and Jorginho. This guy's will give them all the freedom they need to shine
— 𝔻𝕒𝕪𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕣 👑 (@DaystarSnr) December 12, 2023

Those who declined to watch may have felt justified early on as PSV were on top for the majority of the first half.

Arsenal did, however, grow into the game and even took the lead heading into the break as Eddie Nketiah's low drive proved too accurate for Walter Benitez in the PSV net.

What a finish from Nketiah 👏🏼
— Sir Dennis (@Sir_Dennis10) December 12, 2023

Eddie Nketiah, even if nobody knows the potential you have, I’ll never let them forget. Once you are the starting striker for a club at 28, you’re gonna get that Watkins bomba 👍🏿
— TRAVIS SCOTT PILGRIM (@isthatscully) December 12, 2023

There Eddie Nketiah goes again making his contract renewal seem worth it but he needs to go😭😭😭
— Havertzian🥷🏾 (@king__will97) December 12, 2023

PSV needed just five second-half minutes to do what they failed to accomplish in the first as they cut right through the heart of Arsenal's lineup and tied things up through Yorbe Vertessen.

Equaliser by Vertessen. That was no chance for Ramsdale. Too early to look down. The 2nd half has just started. #COYG ! #PSVARS #GoonerFamily #UCL #WOWOW
— Aoki Masaru (@mazzy0108) December 12, 2023

PSV equaliser. 1-1. All too easy. Straight through the middle of us.
— Tad Swar (@tadswar) December 12, 2023

While Arsenal were definitely in a battle, fans were never concerned as the result of this Game meant nothing. They had topped spot wrapped up and were instead hoping to celebrate some meaningful minutes for the likes of Ethan Nwaneri and Reuell Walters.

Instead, supporters watched on as Arteta brought Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard and Ben White off the bench, risking the fitness of three key starters in pursuit of an utterly meaningless victory.

Arreta bringing on Rice. What a crook
— .. (@BodegaaCat) December 12, 2023

🚨 Declan Rice is playing CB.
— Eduardo Hagn (@EduardoHagn) December 12, 2023

Rice, White & Ødegaard? Yeah these youngsters are getting no minutes
— cmbftbl (@cmbftbl) December 12, 2023

Ultimately, it all meant very little for Arsenal, who were relatively comfortable as they saw out a draw to bring their group stage to a close.

I’d love for someone to ask Arteta if risking a bunch of starting XI players was really worth it for a draw.
— MadLou (@Arsenal_HP) December 12, 2023

Professional result but should be a clean sheet. Ready for the knockouts. Congratulations Arsenal. Should be a win but a draw is fine. But knockout football starts. #AFC #PSVARS #UCL #ChampionsLeague
— Husca (@ukvm2) December 12, 2023