Arsenal ultimately departed the Parc des Princes with a fortuitous 1-1 draw, largely thanks to an exceptional performance by goalkeeper David Ospina, but Iwobi could have secured a further two points for the visitors with just eight minutes left.
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Selected ahead of Petr Cech, Ospina again came to the Gunners’ rescue on 68 minutes as he thwarted Cavani, while seconds later the oft-maligned Colombian tipped over a Di Maria effort as PSG again breached their rivals’ porous defence. They played against the Saints in their last game in the league and was able to get a win.
Arsenal’s wobble in the Champions League at the start of last season, with surprise defeats to both Dinamo Zagreb and Olympiakos that nearly condemned them to an early exit, was partly attributed to Wenger’s decision to play Ospina in goal.
For years I have bemoaned the bad luck that Arsenal get but at the minute we are definitely having it the other way and it’s about time. “It’s down to performances whether he stays in the team but, on what he delivered tonight, David has the right to stay in the team for the next Champions League game”.
On his Twitter account, Iwobi stated that he was glad to get the point in what was a tough game for the away team, but again expressed his disappointment at not being able to get the victor… “But they know what the roles of the season are”, Wenger said.
Emery, under pressure after a poor start to the season, made a number of changes to his team too, including recalling Serge Aurier in defence, and the Ivorian was the source of the early opener. It was the first game and we must continue to play like we showed.
“He had three good chances, three very good chances”.
Cavani missed a sitter in the 35th minute, shooting wide in front of an empty goal after going around Ospina.
Substitute Olivier Giroud and Marco Verratti were both sent off for second yellow cards after an off-the-ball incident in stoppage time, but Arsenal held on to for a valuable point. It just remains to be seen if they feel like turning it up and bringing the game to the French giants.
PSG might have had a penalty when Di Maria went down in the vicinity of Mustafi in the box, but the hosts were more than happy to sit and wait, controlling the tempo of the game and looking under little threat from Arsenal’s blunt front-line. “That is positive for the future”.
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“For me, to play in the Champions League with my boyhood club was a dream come true”.
