Paris St-Germain 1-1 Arsenal

By Patrick JenningsBBC Sport

Last updated on 13 September 2016.From the section Football173

Alexis Sanchez salvaged a point for Arsenal from their limp Champions League opener at Paris St-Germain.

Edinson Cavani glanced PSG ahead after 42 seconds and should have had a hat-trick before half-time, firing wide after rounding David Ospina before slipping to fluff a simple finish.

Sanchez rifled in the rebound from Arsenal's first shot on target.

Alex Iwobi might have had a late Arsenal winner before Olivier Giroud and PSG's Marco Verratti were sent off.

Substitute Giroud was brought on to enliven a tame attacking display and picked up two yellow cards in his 27 minutes, the second for an altercation in which Italian midfielder Verratti also picked up a second yellow.

The Gunners were often exposed by the pace of Cavani, Angel di Maria and Serge Aurier and relied on their Colombian goalkeeper Ospina - preferred to Petr Cech - to keep them in it.

Iwobi's low shot was tipped away by Alphonse Areola after Sanchez's equaliser, while PSG would have had a 94th-minute winner had defender Marquinhos not wastefully headed wide from close range.

Anything more than a point for Arsenal would have been harsh on PSG, who outperformed their Premier League opponents but failed to take their chances.

In the other match in Group A, Swiss side Basel were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Ludogorets Razgrad of Bulgaria.

Relive PSG v Arsenal

The European dream

Spanish manager Unai Emery replaced Laurent Blanc as Paris St-Germain boss this summer after winning a third straight Europa League title with Sevilla.

Blanc had just secured a second successive domestic treble - PSG won the league by 31 points - but failure at the Champions League quarter-finals for the third year in a row led the owners to show their ruthless side.

The Qatar Investment Authority bought a controlling stake in the French club in May 2011, and have since financed a net spend of almost £500m on transfers, but the return they crave - success in Europe's premier club competition - has eluded them.

Emery has already had to fend off questions about pressure and expectation after losing one and drawing another of his first four games - and this will feel like an opportunity missed.

Arsenal produced some slick interplay in front of goal but failed to produce many dangerous moments and looked shaky at the back. By the time Sanchez brought them level by firing home after Iwobi's shot was parried out, they could easily have been two or three behind.

How did Ospina do?

Cech was dropped for Ospina in Arsenal's first two Champions League games last season but was reinstated after the Colombian scored an own goal from a corner in a 3-2 home defeat by Olympiakos.

In the first half Ospina made a brilliant recovery to tip over as Angel di Maria's corner momentarily threatened a repeat of that calamitous moment, but he had little chance of stopping Cavani's deft, glancing header.

After the break, as Arsenal struggled to improve, he continued to be unnecessarily exposed by sloppy play in front of him and was forced into making a series of blocks - perhaps the most crucial being to deny Cavani three minutes after the equaliser.

But it was not a totally convincing performance. When Cavani took advantage of an error by Nacho Monreal, Ospina was rash in coming off his line and lucky to see the Uruguayan shank his effort wide.

Beyond the selection choice in goal - Wenger said it was not his intention "to surprise" - Theo Walcott was left out of the squad with a minor injury described by the Arsenal boss as "very short term".

What they said:

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: "We wanted to start at a high pace and after a minute we are 1-0 down. For 20 minutes we were outpaced, they started much better than us but we were resilient.

"We played much better in the second half, they dropped a bit as well. We pushed very high and were vulnerable to the counter attack but it's a good point for us.

"Away from home you have to battle up front and Alexis Sanchez did well. He was isolated at times and in the second half it was easier for him.

"I couldn't work out the red cards. Giroud swears to me that he did nothing at all. We will look at it again. I believe Giroud."

Man of the match - Serge Aurier (PSG)

The Ivorian right-back delivered a beautiful cross for Cavani's goal from the first of many dangerous forward runs and was a solid performer at the back - only Adrien Rabiot was more successful in winning the ball back for the French side.

The stats you need to know

PSG have lost only one of their last 40 home games in European competition (W25 D14).
Olivier Giroud has been sent off on matchday one of the Champions League in both of the last two seasons.
Alexis Sanchez has scored four and assisted five of Arsenal's last 14 Champions League goals (64%).
Arsenal have failed to win any of their last three Champions League group openers (D1 L2).
Edinson Cavani's strike is the quickest goal Arsenal have conceded in the Champions League (42 seconds).
Arsenal are unbeaten in their 13 away games against French clubs in European competition (W8 D5).

What's next?

Arsenal return to Premier League action when they play at Hull in a 15:00 BST kick-off on Saturday. PSG play again in Ligue 1 on Friday in a 19:45 kick-off at Caen.

The Gunners' next Champions League game is at home to Basel on 28 September, when PSG play away to Ludogorets.

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

PSG

Formation 4-3-3

16Areola
19AurierSubstituted forMeunierat 84'minutes
5Marquinhos
2Thiago Silva
17Cabelino Andrade
6VerrattiBooked at 90mins
4KrychowiakSubstituted forPastoreat 79'minutes
25RabiotSubstituted forMottaat 74'minutesBooked at 90mins
11Di María
9Cavani
14Matuidi

Substitutes

1Trapp
3Kimpembe
7Lucas Moura
8Motta
10Pastore
12Meunier
22Rodríguez Ruiz

Arsenal

Formation 4-2-3-1

13Ospina
24Bellerín
20Mustafi
6Koscielny
18Monreal
34CoquelinBooked at 24minsSubstituted forXhakaat 71'minutes
19Cazorla
15Oxlade-ChamberlainSubstituted forGiroudat 63'minutesBooked at 90mins
11ÖzilSubstituted forElnenyat 85'minutes
17Iwobi
7Sánchez

Substitutes

3Gibbs
9Pérez
12Giroud
16Holding
29Xhaka
33Cech
35Elneny

Referee:: Viktor Kassai
Attendance:: 46,440

Match Stats

Home TeamPSGAway TeamArsenal

Possession: Home53%; Away47%

Shots: Home11; Away10

Shots on Target: Home4; Away3

Corners: Home11; Away7

Fouls: Home10; Away12

Live Text

Post update
Match ends, Paris Saint Germain 1, Arsenal 1.
90'+5'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Paris Saint Germain 1, Arsenal 1.

90'+5'
Post update
Attempt missed. Marquinhos (Paris Saint Germain) header from very close range misses to the left following a corner.
90'+5'
Post update
Corner, Paris Saint Germain. Conceded by Nacho Monreal.
90'+3'
Dismissal
Second yellow card to Marco Verratti (Paris Saint Germain).
90'+3'
Dismissal
Second yellow card to Olivier Giroud (Arsenal).
90'+3'
Post update
Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint Germain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+3'
Post update
Foul by Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal).
90'+2'
Booking
Thiago Motta (Paris Saint Germain) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'+2'
Post update
Foul by Thiago Motta (Paris Saint Germain).
90'+2'
Post update
Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'
Post update
Corner, Paris Saint Germain. Conceded by Shkodran Mustafi.
89'
Post update
Foul by Thomas Meunier (Paris Saint Germain).
89'
Post update
Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
88'
Booking
Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) is shown the yellow card.
88'
Post update
Thomas Meunier (Paris Saint Germain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
88'
Post update
Foul by Olivier Giroud (Arsenal).
85'
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Mohamed Elneny replaces Mesut Özil.
84'
Substitution
Substitution, Paris Saint Germain. Thomas Meunier replaces Serge Aurier because of an injury.
83'
Post update
Blaise Matuidi (Paris Saint Germain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

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173 comments

Comment posted by D1679110813156, at 00:33 14 Sep 2016
Is this HYS purely for the usual suspects to put the boot into Wenger? Find another club manager anywhere who's delivered consistent top level football year on year. You won't find one, let alone one who did it with one financial arm tied behind his back building a stadium & maintaining an old-fashioned thing called economic stability to, you know, protect real people's jobs, not just footballers.
Comment posted by thatguy, at 00:46 14 Sep 2016
Regardless of your affiliation, a point in Paris is a good result

Here's hoping ALL the English clubs progress
Comment posted by Arsenal42, at 01:25 14 Sep 2016
Quite how we managed that I have no idea! Would and should have been 3 down at HT if not for Ospina. But can hardly complain against a team that have only lost once in their past 40 European home games. Onto the next one!
Comment posted by its up for grabs now, at 05:43 14 Sep 2016
@30 John Buckle

It's McNutty and his ilk of reporters.

It starts with the headline "Arsenal rescue a draw", as if we are expected to win against a £500m team on a one loss in forty home record.

Any other club, it's "soaked up the pressure, rode their luck, kept battling, took the chance to earn a creditable draw".

These "journalists" used to be subtle, now they're just blatant...
Comment posted by mac_abre, at 01:48 14 Sep 2016
Arsenal endure this abuse every game, it's either aimed at Wenger or at players, it's usually ad hominem but no surprises there. But most people don't see the whole club, and its recent history, in fact most fans of other clubs are envious - Arsene Wenger is a manager who changed Arsenal for the better, and impacted the premier league with a style now copied by other clubs.
Comment posted by User0625665638, at 02:07 14 Sep 2016
@18 that's because City didn't play, both Stones and Sterling were in the original starting lineup for us. Majority of English players are garbage anyway, how many English players have Arsenal given chance after chance after chance to over the past few years?
Comment posted by John Buckle, at 05:12 14 Sep 2016
Why is it that (according to your reporters) when Arsenal miss the target they are condemned as not good enough,poor or 2nd rate, yet when the opposition do exactly the same they are unfortunate, unlucky. Arsenal were not at their best, but take a look at the stats they we not that bad either.
Comment posted by Espresso, at 08:36 14 Sep 2016
God knows what's happened to Cavani since his Napoli days, but along with Ospina's heroics, him fluffing some golden chances was what kept Arsenal in the game. Still, that's the rub of the luck, and Arsenal fans should be delighted to have come away from the toughest match of the group with a point.
Comment posted by User0528191772, at 06:55 14 Sep 2016
Look on the positive side, this is a massive point. Earned a point away from the group strongest opponent is big.
Comment posted by DMT, at 01:50 14 Sep 2016
@18 We all watched England " showcase " some English talent at the Euros, and it was painful and embarrassing. Walcott , Gibbs, Smokin Jack, have been given ample opportunity by AFC over the years, and frankly how Ox got in the side after his pathetic performance at the weekend is beyond me. The stats show almost equal possession, and shots and yet apparently we've robbed them? Great result .
Comment posted by User0132978530, at 06:59 14 Sep 2016
Following a less than convincing start to the premiership this has to be consider a point gained not two lost. PSG are a quality team and without doubt they will feel considerably more disappointed by this result.
Comment posted by Jiminy_Glick, at 02:25 14 Sep 2016
A completely forgettable match. But we got a point in Paris, and the best thing about it is the bench. Haven't seen such a strong bench in a while.

We finally have a squad. But still no form to speak of!

Good luck to all British teams- when it comes to Europe, we should get behind our league 100%. It's embarrassing how much better the Spanish and Germans are than all of our teams.
Comment posted by RickysDribble, at 13:11 14 Sep 2016
Celtic though. Lol.
Comment posted by User0925904531, at 08:14 14 Sep 2016
It was a good result after a very poor start and Arsenal can show that they can progress in this competition.However, there is always this question mark over Wenger, he has done great things for Arsenal on a shoe string.Its time for Arsene to have a co-manager to help bring his thinking into the 21st century and to help Arsenal achieve winners status in competitions not just runners up.
Comment posted by User0100780189, at 08:10 14 Sep 2016
Wenger always seems to insist on 1 (sometimes 2) baffling things every season that cost us dearly on a regular basis. Either win without a holding DM, play a snail up top when using counter attack tactics, don't invest in a proper cf, etc etc. Now that he has resolved a lot of them he's picked up another one; play Sanchez at cf. Everyone and their grandma can see it does not and will not work!!!
Comment posted by User0578482637, at 08:30 14 Sep 2016
"34. Posted by its up for grabs now

These "journalists" used to be subtle, now they're just blatant..."

Not just the journalists but the pundits as well. If only Arsenal's Champions league experiences were as good as those of Lineker, Shearer, Mills, Jenas, Kilbane and Murphy.
Comment posted by Simba, at 09:27 14 Sep 2016
Wenger made a few wrong decisions in his team selection, giroud and xhaka should have started. However we weathered the storm and through sheer luck and determination managed a point, but that should be a warning to wenger because we won't get that lucky twice!
Comment posted by The Legendary Bergkamp, at 09:19 14 Sep 2016
Look we were a bit lucky. Wenger got the tactics wrong with Sanchez upfront, he dropped to deep too often and we had no width to our play. As soon as he changed things and put Giroud on, it was much better. Sanchez was able to terrorise on the flank, pushed Aurier back (who was immense btw). Its a great result. Still my slight worry is the boys not being switched on from the start....
Comment posted by BaggiosPonytail, at 10:03 14 Sep 2016
Ospina had a brilliant game and probably kept Arsenal in the match. A point away from home is a good result and gives them a decent chance to top the group.
Comment posted by mac_abre, at 01:25 14 Sep 2016
A Good result away against PSG, no one can deny that, you can say what you want about the game, and the players, but the fact is, this goes down as a great result, especially since the other two teams ludogorgets Razgrad and FC Basil also drew.

As for that Sanchez goal, I think that did Arsenal the world of good, and we are now close to our usual great form - once the new guys settle in.

	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Napoli	1	1	0	0	2	1	1	3
2	Besiktas	1	0	1	0	1	1	0	1
3	Benfica	1	0	1	0	1	1	0	1
4	Dynamo Kyiv	1	0	0	1	1	2	-1	0

	Team	P	W	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Barcelona	1	1	0	7	0	7	3
2	B Mgladbach	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Man City	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	Celtic	1	0	1	0	7	-7	0

	Team	P	W	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Bayern Munich	1	1	0	5	0	5	3
2	Atl Madrid	1	1	0	1	0	1	3
3	PSV Eindhoven	1	0	1	0	1	-1	0
4	FC Rostov	1	0	1	0	5	-5	0

		Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1		B Leverkusen	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2		CSKA Moscow	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3		Monaco	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4		Tottenham	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

		Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1		B Dortmund	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2		Legia Warsaw	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3		Real Madrid	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4		Sporting	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

	Team	P	D	F	A	Pts
1	Arsenal	1	1	1	1	1
2	Ludogorets	1	1	1	1	1
3	FC Basel	1	1	1	1	1
4	PSG	1	1	1	1	1

		Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1		Club Bruges	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2		FC Copenhagen	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3		FC Porto	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4		Leicester	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

		Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1		Dinamo Zagreb	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2		Juventus	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3		Lyon	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4		Sevilla	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

The European dream

How did Ospina do?

What they said:

Man of the match - Serge Aurier (PSG)

The stats you need to know

What's next?

Line-ups

PSG

Substitutes

Arsenal

Substitutes

Match Stats

Live Text

Comments

Join the conversation

Comment posted by D1679110813156, at 00:33 14 Sep 2016D1679110813156

Comment posted by thatguy, at 00:46 14 Sep 2016thatguy

Comment posted by Arsenal42, at 01:25 14 Sep 2016Arsenal42

Comment posted by its up for grabs now, at 05:43 14 Sep 2016its up for grabs now

Comment posted by mac_abre, at 01:48 14 Sep 2016mac_abre

Comment posted by User0625665638, at 02:07 14 Sep 2016User0625665638

Comment posted by John Buckle, at 05:12 14 Sep 2016John Buckle

Comment posted by Espresso, at 08:36 14 Sep 2016Espresso

Comment posted by User0528191772, at 06:55 14 Sep 2016User0528191772

Comment posted by DMT, at 01:50 14 Sep 2016DMT

Comment posted by User0132978530, at 06:59 14 Sep 2016User0132978530

Comment posted by Jiminy_Glick, at 02:25 14 Sep 2016Jiminy_Glick

Comment posted by RickysDribble, at 13:11 14 Sep 2016RickysDribble

Comment posted by User0925904531, at 08:14 14 Sep 2016User0925904531

Comment posted by User0100780189, at 08:10 14 Sep 2016User0100780189

Comment posted by User0578482637, at 08:30 14 Sep 2016User0578482637

Comment posted by Simba, at 09:27 14 Sep 2016Simba

Comment posted by The Legendary Bergkamp, at 09:19 14 Sep 2016The Legendary Bergkamp

Comment posted by BaggiosPonytail, at 10:03 14 Sep 2016BaggiosPonytail

Comment posted by mac_abre, at 01:25 14 Sep 2016mac_abre

Scores, Results & Fixtures

Tuesday 13th September 2016

As It Stood

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

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Comment posted by D1679110813156, at 00:33 14 Sep 2016

Comment posted by thatguy, at 00:46 14 Sep 2016

Comment posted by Arsenal42, at 01:25 14 Sep 2016

Comment posted by its up for grabs now, at 05:43 14 Sep 2016

Comment posted by mac_abre, at 01:48 14 Sep 2016

Comment posted by User0625665638, at 02:07 14 Sep 2016

Comment posted by John Buckle, at 05:12 14 Sep 2016

Comment posted by Espresso, at 08:36 14 Sep 2016

Comment posted by User0528191772, at 06:55 14 Sep 2016

Comment posted by DMT, at 01:50 14 Sep 2016

Comment posted by User0132978530, at 06:59 14 Sep 2016

Comment posted by Jiminy_Glick, at 02:25 14 Sep 2016

Comment posted by RickysDribble, at 13:11 14 Sep 2016

Comment posted by User0925904531, at 08:14 14 Sep 2016

Comment posted by User0100780189, at 08:10 14 Sep 2016

Comment posted by User0578482637, at 08:30 14 Sep 2016

Comment posted by Simba, at 09:27 14 Sep 2016

Comment posted by The Legendary Bergkamp, at 09:19 14 Sep 2016

Comment posted by BaggiosPonytail, at 10:03 14 Sep 2016

Comment posted by mac_abre, at 01:25 14 Sep 2016