Arsenal 2-2 Paris Saint-Germain: Battle for Group A top spot to be decided in last game

Neither side could find a winner meaning the winners of Group A will be decided on the final game of the group stage.

Arsenal 2-2 Paris Saint-Germain: Battle for Group A top spot to be decided in last game
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By Aaron Stokes

Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain will have to wait until the final game of their respective Champions League campaigns to see who will finish top of Group A. 

Edinson Cavani and Olivier Giroud were both on the scoresheet in the first half. Whilst Marco Verratti and Alex Iwobi both saw the ball bounce off them into their own goals in the second half. 

Referee Felix Brych turned down a number of penalty decisions throughout the match, however seemed to get most of them correct.

First half action 

It wasn't until the 14th minute that the game saw its first chance. PSG's corner was swung in from the left and Thiago Silva got on the end of it but Laurent Koscielny was on hand to clear the shot off the line.

PSG broke the deadlock just four minutes later when Thiago Motta played a through ball to Blaise Matuidi and the Frenchman squared the ball across goal for Cavani to poke home from close range. 

Arsenal began to pile on the pressure and were seeing more of the ball. Aaron Ramsey went down in the penalty area under a challenge from Silva but the referee rightly waved away the the Gunners' claims.

Sanchez just before he won Arsenal's penalty. Photo:Shaun Botterill/Getty
Sanchez just before he won Arsenal's penalty. Photo:Shaun Botterill/Getty

Arsene Wenger's men then had another penalty appeal turned down when Ramsey appeared to kick the ball off the arm of Matuidi.

Arsenal were struggling to break down the French giants. Finally, at the third attempt of asking, Arsenal were awarded a penalty kick after Alexis Sanchez was brought down in the box. Credit must be given to Mesut Ozil for his vision in the build up to the incident.

Giroud stepped up and converted the spot kick on the stroke of half time. 

Second half 

Lucas Moura had the first chance of the second half, as he saw his curling free kick smash off the corner of the crossbar. 

Arsenal then tried to respond soon after, as Sanchez's cross was met by Giroud at the far post but his cross/shot was blocked by Marquinhos.

It wasn't long after that, that Arsenal took the lead. Karl Jenkinson's cross was half cleared and Ramsey's follow up rebounded off Verratti into PSG's goal. 

Seeking to get back on level terms, PSG started to push on and look for an equaliser. Cavani was put through over the top and went down after a tangle with Koscielny. The referee waved play on. 

The game started to lull until Verratti lost the ball just outside his own area. Giroud stole the ball and found Sanchez, who played a searching ball over the top which Ozil just couldn't get to.

Cavani tries in vein to put PSG back in front. Photo: Shaun Botterill/Getty
Cavani tries in vein to put PSG back in front. Photo: Shaun Botterill/Getty

A catalogue of errors unfolded at the Arsenal end moments later, Lucas Moura got on the end of a searching corner and headed towards goal unmarked. The ball took a touch off the head of Alex Iwobi meaning David Ospina couldn't keep it out. 13 minutes remained as both sides looked for the winning goal.

Both sides had a golden opportunity to make it 3-2 soon after. PSG sprung a counter attack when Lucas burst through the midfield, playing Cavani in on goal just passed the half way line. The Uruguayian tried to chip an oncoming Ospina to no avail.

Ramsey then dragged a shot wide 30 seconds later. 

Cavani had another chance to score as he latched onto an inch perfect cross from Lucas but his glancing header went wide of the post.

Neither side could eventually find a winner.

What it means for the group

The draw means both clubs sit on 11 points, with PSG top due to previous results. 

It means gameweek six will determine which European giant finishes top of the group and receives a potentially easier draw in the knockout stages.