Match ends, Arsenal 2, Paris Saint Germain 2.
ArsenalArsenal2PSGParis Saint Germain2
Arsenal face a struggle to finish top of their Champions League group after they were held to a draw by Paris St-Germain at Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners were seeking the win that would put them in pole position in Group A after years of finishing second and six consecutive eliminations in the last 16 in the knockout phase.
And it looked like Arsenal were on their way despite going behind early on to Edinson Cavani's sliding finish from Blaise Matuidi's cross.
Olivier Giroud scored from a penalty just before half-time after Grzegorz Krychowiak fouled Alexis Sanchez. And Arsenal were ahead on the hour when a penalty-box rebound struck Marco Verratti and flew in.
PSG were always dangerous and Lucas' header, which took a touch off Alex Iwobi, gave them a fully-deserved equaliser 13 minutes from time.
Cavani then missed two good chances and although Arsenal and PSG are level on points, the French champions have the advantage on head-to-head away goals with one round of games left after a 1-1 draw between the teams in Paris earlier in the group.
Arsenal looking at second again
Arsenal's inability to top their Champions League group has cost them dearly as they have failed to get past the last 16 in the past six years - and they now face the same fate again.
The odds now seem stacked in favour of Unai Emery's side, but the side that finishes top could yet end up facing the likes of Real Madrid or Bayern Munich.
PSG face Ludogorets at home in their final game, the team Arsenal beat 6-0 at Emirates Stadium, while Wenger's side travel to Basel.
There is still an opportunity for late twists but it is starting to look like second again after this enthralling draw.
They will be entering familiar territory after reaching the last 16 every season in the Champions League's current format, which has been in existence since 2003-04.
Arsenal have suffered in finishing second. Those exits at the last-16 stage in the past six seasons have included two losses to Barcelona, two to Bayern Munich and one each to AC Milan and Monaco.
| Who's through? |
|---|
| In: Arsenal, Paris St-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Monaco, Bayer Leverkusen, Real Madrid, Leicester City, Juventus, Barcelona, Manchester City |
| Out: Ludogorets, Basel, PSV Eindhoven, FC Rostov, Club Brugge, Dinamo Zagreb, Legia Warsaw, Tottenham, CSKA Moscow, Sporting Lisbon, Dynamo Kiev, Borussia Monchengladbach, Celtic |
Gunners' resilience on show
Arsenal may not have been at their best here but they once again showed the resilience that manager Arsene Wenger believes is starting to become their trademark.
Wenger hinted at this new-found strength in his programme notes, written after they grabbed a late point at Manchester United in the Premier League.
He said: "We were resilient, we came back and we've done that many times this season. I believe we have the quality and the spirit on the bench now and that combination makes us remarkably resilient until the last minute."
Arsenal were outplayed until they got a penalty in first-half injury time and while they hardly sparkled in the second half they at least dug deep to earn a point that could yet prove vital.
Cavani bails Arsenal out
Cavani has forged a reputation as one of the world's most formidable strikers - and he was on target here again when he slid in to turn home Matuidi's cross to put PSG ahead after 18 minutes.
The Uruguayan's runs into space are magical but he could have made Arsenal's plight much worse with two glaring second half misses, one when he broke clear and went for a Hollywood chipped finish that David Ospina saved, and a point-blank header he directed wide from Lucas' cross.
Cavani has the record of a quality player - but he let Arsenal off the hook.
Man of the match - Lucas (PSG)
The stats you need to know
- This was the first time a Champions League match finished with more goals than shots on target since Rangers vs Unirea Urziceni in October 2009
- Only Lionel Messi (18) has scored more goals than Cavani (16) in all competitions among players in the big five European leagues this season
- Olivier Giroud's penalty was Arsenal's first shot of any kind in the match
- Giroud has scored with nine of his past 11 shots on target for Arsenal in all competitions, having scored with just two of his 22 before that
- Arsenal are unbeaten in their four meetings with PSG, though three have ended in draws (W1)
- PSG have failed to keep a clean sheet in their past 10 games against English clubs
- Arsenal have scored 14 goals in the group stages so far - only in 2010-11 (15) have they scored more in their opening five Champions League group games
What next?
Arsenal return to Premier League action on Sunday when they host Bournemouth at Emirates Stadium in a match that starts at 14:15 GMT.
Line-ups
Arsenal
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 13Ospina
- 25JenkinsonSubstituted forOxlade-Chamberlainat 81'minutes
- 20Mustafi
- 6KoscielnyBooked at 53mins
- 3Gibbs
- 8Ramsey
- 34CoquelinBooked at 34minsSubstituted forWalcottat 80'minutes
- 7SĂĄnchez
- 11Ăzil
- 17IwobiSubstituted forXhakaat 77'minutes
- 12Giroud
Substitutes
- 5Gabriel
- 14Walcott
- 15Oxlade-Chamberlain
- 18Monreal
- 29Xhaka
- 33Cech
- 35Elneny
PSG
Formation 4-3-3
- 16Areola
- 12Meunier
- 5MarquinhosBooked at 31mins
- 2Thiago Silva
- 17Cabelino Andrade
- 6VerrattiBooked at 55mins
- 4KrychowiakSubstituted forBen Arfaat 67'minutes
- 8Motta
- 7Lucas MouraSubstituted forRodrĂguez Ruizat 89'minutes
- 9Cavani
- 14Matuidi
Substitutes
- 1Trapp
- 3Kimpembe
- 21Ben Arfa
- 22RodrĂguez Ruiz
- 24Nkunku
- 29Augustin
- 36Ikone
- Referee:
- Dr. Felix Brych
- Attendance:
- 59,628
Match Stats
Home TeamArsenalAway TeamPSG
- Possession
- Home46%
- Away54%
- Shots
- Home5
- Away14
- Shots on Target
- Home1
- Away1
- Corners
- Home3
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Arsenal 2, Paris Saint Germain 2.
Post update
Corner, Paris Saint Germain. Conceded by Laurent Koscielny.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Jesé (Paris Saint Germain) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Marco Verratti with a through ball.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Jesé (Paris Saint Germain) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Marco Verratti.
Substitution
Substitution, Paris Saint Germain. Jesé replaces Lucas Moura.
Post update
Foul by Blaise Matuidi (Paris Saint Germain).
Post update
Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Marquinhos (Paris Saint Germain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal).
Post update
Offside, Arsenal. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain tries a through ball, but Olivier Giroud is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt missed. Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint Germain) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Lucas Moura with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replaces Carl Jenkinson.
Post update
Attempt missed. Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint Germain) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Maxwell.
Post update
Marco Verratti (Paris Saint Germain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal).
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Theo Walcott replaces Francis Coquelin.
Post update
Attempt missed. Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Alexis SĂĄnchez.
Post update
Attempt missed. Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint Germain) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Lucas Moura.
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Granit Xhaka replaces Alex Iwobi.
Comments
Join the conversation
Spurs fans claim Arsenal are an embarrassment in Europe, Spurs are just an embarrassment full stop, 2 league cups in 25 years
Well at least we've actually made the Champions league final, this is only your 2nd appearance in the entire competition and looks likely you will be eliminated tonight, your bitterness just puts you up there with all the other bitter neighbours
FIFA the most corrupt organisation in the world.
Old timers for winning the UEFA cup 30 odd years ago, and embarrassing England this time
"In terms of the "big clubs", Arsenal are the whipping boys of the Champions League"
At least 'Hodd..." sees Arsenal as being counted among the "big clubs" and included in discussions of Europe's elite. Spurs on the other hand, not so much... But not a thing wrong with Europa League! - it's actually very nice for clubs at that level to have a competition of their own.
You must be looking forward to the next round of the Champions League?
Have Tottenham ever finished above Arsenal in the Premier League?
Are there bigger club tournaments in English football?
"Silva's deft equaliser ensured MC reached the CL knockout stage for a fourth consecutive season."
"The Gunners were seeking the win that would put them in pole position in Group A after years of finishing second and six eliminations in the last 16 in the knockout phase"
McNutty's blatant anti Arsenal diatribe is just embarrassing...
Glad you've found your tablet. It seemed to disappear last night after the mighty spuds were eliminated and you went into hiding.
Spuds, first they come 2nd in a two horse race now they look likely to come 4th in a four horse race.
I have no particular love for Arsenal but that club is not only bigger but also classier than spuds (not to mention more successful). What a mug.
For many arguments sake I'm sure most neutrals would never say Spurs are better than Arsenal.
Spurs have progressed slightly since the sale of Bale tho.
Think that's the problem for the Gunners is they haven't really changed as the years role on. Good luck against psg either way!