Alexis Sanchez struck late to ensure Arsenal started their Champions League campaign with a 1-1 draw at Paris Saint-Germain.
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Iwobi came close to winning it for Arsenal in the 83rd, but Areola stretched to his left to tip the ball away to save new coach Unai Emery’s blushes on his PSG Champions League debut.
The game’s major flash point occurred once PSG’s Brazilian defender Marquinhos appeared to push Giroud in the back after the Frenchman tangled with Verratti – subsequently, both were booked by referee Viktor Kassai, who appeared to have not seen the incident.
“Olivier Giroud has had a knock on Tuesday night, I have to check if he’s fit and available”, Wenger said. It has taken him some time go get in the team – it happens for many players – but he will do that without any problem.
“For us it was the biggest match of the group to play against Paris Saint-Germain, although of course we respect all the other teams in the group”. The 31-year-old, who could do little about Edinson Cavani’s opening goal after just 42 seconds, justified his selection, with five vital saves.
That was the goal that PSG needed and it transformed the atmosphere.
The Gunners will be hoping to make lighter work of their next two Champions League opponents – Basel and Ludogorets as they attempt to progress further than the last-16. “We will sit together when he is back”. We need to be strong from the first minute to the end. The Arsenal stopper was on hand again moments later to keep out Cavani after a couple of fortunate deflections put the striker through on goal.
Then, just before the interval, he ran onto Di Maria’s pass but lost his footing while trying to untangle his legs. For that reason, one could at least try to rationalize Granit Xhaka’s continued absence from the starting XI.
The French midfielder played an energetic, tough match from the start. “We created chances in the second half and it is a good point for us”.
This time around, Ospina capitalized on the faith that Wenger showed in him.
That should have been 6-0, but thankfully for the Gunners, it was not.
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PSG needed less than a minute to take the lead in France’s capital and it came through striker Cavani, who got in between the two Arsenal centre-backs to head a Serge Aurier cross into the bottom corner.
