PSV vs Arsenal Europa League result, final score and reaction tonight as Veerman and De Jong - live
The Gunners went down 2-0 with three disallowed goals for the Dutch giants
Arsenal slipped to just a second defeat of the season after being outplayed at PSV Eindhoven as they failed to ensure top spot in their Europa League group.
A point would have been enough for the Gunners, but they were deservedly beaten 2-0 by Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side, with Joey Veerman and Luuk de Jong grabbing the goals.
Arsenal can still top Group A - and avoid the knockout round play-offs against the likes of Barcelona and Sevilla - by matching or bettering PSV‘s result in the final round of pool fixtures, but manager Mikel Arteta will be ruing having missed a chance to wrap things up early and rest players for their final Europa League game before the World Cup.
After confusion in the build-up surrounding what shorts Arsenal would wear to avoid a kit clash, the visitors ended up riding by the seat of their pants as PSV had two goals disallowed before finally opening the scoring through Veerman.
Aaron Ramsdale - on his European debut, with Matt Turner missing out as a precaution due to a groin issue - made a fine low save from Xavi Simons before Cody Gakpo fluffed his lines moments later, with the hosts setting the scene for the rest of the evening.
Gakpo was quiet at the Emirates Stadium a week ago but showed his quality in collecting a through ball and clipping a fine finish over Ramsdale - only to have his celebrations cut short by an offside flag.
With the game opening up, Eddie Nketiah drew a smart stop out of Walter Benitez with a near-post flick from Fabio Vieira’s cross.
PSV had a second goal of the half disallowed after Simons battled past Kieran Tierney, Rob Holding and William Saliba before finishing beyond Ramsdale, only for Anwar El Ghazi to have been caught offside in the build-up.
The half ended with Martin Odegaard stinging the palms of Benitez, but the visitors went for the break lucky to be level.
Nketiah flashed a shot past the post and Tierney curled over the crossbar as Arsenal started the second half brighter.
PSV, though, were still a threat at the other end, with Simons and Veerman both calling Ramsdale into action before Gakpo flashed a shot across goal.
It was third time lucky for the hosts, Veerman steering home a fine finish to break the deadlock 10 minutes into the second half.
Shortly afterwards the lead was doubled. De Jong, having been introduced at half-time, made the most of Ramsdale coming off his line and failing to punch clear a corner which the PSV skipper duly nodded home.
Arsenal, with Thomas Partey, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus all thrown on in an attempt to turn the game around, almost went three behind as Gakpo turned in a cross only to once again be thwarted by an offside flag.
De Jong then headed a fine chance wide with Arteta’s side well and truly on the ropes, although Nketiah still worked Benitez as Everton loanee Jarrad Branthwaite cleared away bravely.
Arsenal could not get any closer to a consolation than that, with former United striker Van Nistelrooy dishing out just a second loss of the campaign to Arteta’s side after the Red Devils won their Premier League meeting last month.
PSV 2-0 Arsenal
87 mins: PSV take more time out of the game by making a few more substitutions but the game is gone now for Arsenal.
They’ve only been beaten once so far this season - by Manchester United in the Premier League - but they’re heading for a second defeat tonight.
PSV 2-0 Arsenal
84 mins: Xavi Simons is booked as he takes his sweet time heading off the pitch to be replaced with Noni Madueke. That irks Granit Xhaka who kicks off with Simons and causes both men to receive yellow cards.
Even with all these attacking players on the pitch Arsenal haven’t managed to create a proper chance. Time is ticking away now.
PSV 2-0 Arsenal
81 mins: Save! The ball is knocked into the box where Eddie Nketiah shoots on the spin and smokes his effort straight at the goalkeeper.
Nketiah and Jesus both lunge at the ball as Benitez spills it from his save but Branthwaite gets there first and pokes it away. All four men collide and Arsenal are punished for fouling the goalkeeper.
PSV 2-0 Arsenal
78 mins: Fabio Vieira lets fly from a long way out and doesn’t hit the target for Arsenal. A defeat here isn’t the worst thing for Arsenal but it would mean that they need at least a point - maybe more - against FC Zurich on the final game week to win the group.
If the Gunners can score in the next couple of minutes though that would set up an exciting finish in Eindhoven.
PSV 2-0 Arsenal
75 mins: Gabriel Jesus turns well inside of PSV’s final third and wins the Gunners a free kick. Before it’s taken Ben White and Gabriel are brought on to replace Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Arsenal knock the free kick short but Jesus is unable to shoot from the edge of the box and PSV work it clear.
PSV 2-0 Arsenal
72 mins: SAVE! A cross field pass comes out to Gakpo on the left side and he lifts a cross into the middle of the box. De Jong is open and wins the header that he powers towards goal but Ramsdale is alert enough to leap across and palm the effort wide!
The Arsenal goalkeeper is furious with his defence. Everything is too easy for PSV at the minute.
PSV 2-0 Arsenal
69 mins: Arsenal are all over the place at the minute. They need to attack but that is making them very vulnerable at the back.
A free kick is curled over to the back post where De Jong is wide open. He meets the ball with a header back across goal but the striker nods his effort wide of the target.
PSV 2-0 Arsenal
66 mins: Mikel Arteta throws caution to the wind now and introduces Gabriel Jesus whilst bringing off Rob Holding.
Disallowed goal! Simons drives through midfield and draws in four defenders before working the ball out to Sangare on the right side. Gakpo is waiting in the box and meets the ball when the cross comes in, knocking it past Ramsdale for another goal.
The offside flag is up once more to deny him though.
GOAL! PSV 2-0 Arsenal (De Jong, 63’)⚽️
63 mins: Mistake from Ramsdale, goal for De Jong!
PSV win a corner that simply gets whipped into the middle of the box. Aaron Ramsdale makes an early decision to come a punch the ball clear but his misses it as he swipes at the ball.
Luuk de Jong takes the risk to rise up with the goalkeeper and the ball lands on his head allowing him to guide it into the open net!
PSV double their lead.
PSV 1-0 Arsenal
61 mins: About 30 minutes left to play in Eindhoven and Arsenal trail by one goal to nil. A draw is enough for the Gunners to win the group but they’ll need to step up the tempo if they hope to break PSV down.
The ball comes out to Saka on the right but Max is on top of him in a flash and the home side wrestle back the ball.
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