UCL: Arteta's 'second squad' ends the Eindhoven exhibition undefeated; no Thursday football at the Pizjuan!

Arsenal drew 1-1 against PSV at the Philips Stadion in a Champions League matchday six dead rubber, as both sides now look forward to the knockout stages.

PSV were the only team in Europe’s top divisions with a 100% home league record before tonight, and even though there was nothing to play for in terms of group-stage positions with both sides making multiple changes, the hosts were determined to get off to a good start. William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães were two players that kept their places, and both centre-backs produced magnificent blocks inside just six minutes to keep the score level.

Both teams were denied by the woodwork in the first half, with Yorbe Vertessen clipping the post with a header from a dangerous cross, while Mohamed Elneny went for the spectacular - a similar goal to the one he scored on his first-ever Champions League start against Barcelona in 2016 - but his long-range strike hit the upright. Arsenal grew into the game as the half went on and were rewarded with the opener three minutes before halftime, as Eddie Nketiah scored his maiden Champions League goal with a well-taken finish off the inside of the post with his weaker left foot from a Reiss Nelson cross.

Just five minutes into the second period, Vertessen had another chance to get on the scoresheet, and the Belgian’s curling effort struck the inside of the post and into the back of the net this time - leveling proceedings after some good work from Ricardo Pepi. The Gunners responded well, as Nketiah and Nelson both went close by hitting the side netting, before Ismael Saibari reminded them of PSV’s attacking threat by striking the woodwork - a recurring theme in this match - midway through the half.

Arsenal were still determined to find a winner though, and had the ball in the net with 10 minutes to go when Gabriel headed in substitute Martin Odegaard’s delightful free-kick, only for it to be ruled out for offside. In the end, in a game where the result did not matter too much, both teams settled for a point each, and now progress to the knockouts. PSV have now only won one of their last nine matches against English opposition, but will take encouragement from the fact that they avoided a thrashing like the 4-0 in the reverse fixture. As for the Gunners, Mikel Arteta would have wanted to avoid consecutive defeats after the weekend’s 1-0 loss at Aston Villa, and he was able to give some of his fringe players crucial minutes ahead of a busy Christmas schedule.

Elsewhere, Lens secured the point that they needed to finish third in Champions League Group B, following a dramatic 2-1 victory over rock-bottom Sevilla, earning the Blood and Gold a spot in the Europa League – which also deprived the visitors of the chance to win Europe’s second-tier competition this season for a record-extending eighth time.

In a raucous atmosphere at Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens started nervously, as Kevin Danso misdirected a header behind for a corner, from which Sergio Ramos nodded wide. Midway through the first half, Nampalys Mendy was forced off with a hamstring injury, so Neil El Aynaoui took his place. The contest had started to feel flat when visiting captain Ivan Rakitić woke everyone up with a piledriver that Brice Samba did brilliantly to tip over the bar, but from the resulting Rakitić delivery, Kike Salas’ flick-on evaded talisman Youssef En-Nesyri.

Despite Sevilla bossing possession and winning seven corners in the opening period, they still only mustered two efforts on target in that time. Heading into this match, visiting manager Diego Alonso hadn’t beaten any top-flight opposition since he took the job in October (five draws, five losses), but he must have felt confident that his side would eventually end that winless run if they carried on playing on the front foot, especially with the knowledge that a victory would see them leapfrog Lens courtesy of head-to-head record.

Sevilla did hit the bar on 57 minutes through Adrià Pedrosa, but Lens made the breakthrough shortly afterwards, when Elye Wahi was released down the left and squared for the marauding Facundo Medina. His backlift for a shot meant his left boot connected with the recovering Boubakary Soumaré, prompting referee Felix Zwayer to point to the spot. Despite protests, VAR saw nothing wrong with the decision, Przemysław Frankowski duly dispatching the spot-kick.

No doubt feeling aggrieved, Los Rojiblancos were unexpectedly awarded a penalty of their own, as Medina was deemed to have pulled En-Nesyri’s left arm from Rakitić’s cross. Ramos was initially denied superbly by Samba, but Zwayer ordered a retake because the France international had strayed off his line. At the second attempt, the 37-year-old produced a wonderful panenka before being booked for catching Samba when retrieving the ball.

But at the death, Pedrosa was caught on the ball by Florian Sotoca, who found Angelo Fulgini deep into stoppage time for the substitute to finish with aplomb, meaning Lens can look forward to more European nights in a couple of months’ time, while Sevilla return to La Liga action against Getafe on Saturday.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - ROUND 6

Tuesday

PSV - Arsenal 1-1 (0-1)

/Vertessen 50 - Nketiah 42/

Lens - Sevilla 2-1 (0-0)

/Frankowski 63 pen, Fulgini 90+6 - Ramos 79 pen/

23:00: (3.30) Salzburg (3.60) Benfica (2.25)

23:00: (1.82) Inter (3.60) Sociedad (5.00)

23:00: (2.95) Man.Utd. (3.60) Bayern (2.30)

23:00: (2.55) Copenhagen (3.65) Galatasaray (2.60)

23:00: (1.53) Napoli (4.30) Braga (6.00)

23:00: (3.60) Union Berlin (3.50) Real Madrid (2.15)

Wednesday

20:45: (7.75) Crvena Zvezda (4.80) Man.City (1.40)

20:45: (1.35) RB Leipzig (5.30) Young Boys (8.00)

23:00: (1.65) Atl.Madrid (3.70) Lazio (5.60)

23:00: (3.20) Celtic (3.60) Feyenoord (2.30)

23:00: (4.00) Dortmund (3.60) PSG (1.90)

23:00: (1.95) Newcastle (3.50) Milan (3.90)

23:00: (1.50) Porto (4.40) Shakhtar (7.50)

23:00: (5.50) Antwerp (3.90) Barcelona (1.63)

***odds are subject to change***