As it happened: Arsenal Cruise Past PSV in Champions League Return

If you missed the game or simply want to relive the action, here are the official highlights of the match:

Arsenal came out firing on all cylinders, and after Bukayo Saka's early goal, the game only looked to be headed in one direction. It wasn't long before Leandro Trossard doubled the lead, with Gabriel Jesus adding a third just before half time. The entire half was dominant for the Gunners, with the visitors managing just two shots on target. 

The second half was, somehow, an even more dominant display from Mikel Arteta's side. They never looked threatened and could have added two or three more goals to their lead - on top of Martin Ødegaard's long-range screamer.

There were no real faults from the Arsenal display, which will leave the side full of confidence ahead of a heated game against fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur this weekend.

After the opening game week, Arsenal are top of group B, after Sevilla were held to a 1-1 draw at home to RC Lens. 

Next game week, Arsenal head across the Channel as they face RC Lens, while PSV host Sevilla.

It is hard to pick out individual performances after such a brilliant team display, but Fabio Vieira definitely deserves a special mention. Despite coming on late, when the game was already won, he showed moments of excellence and was a real shining star in attack. After a difficult start to life in North London, it's really refreshing to see the 23-year-old thriving now.

His goal was sublime, but the Arsenal captain's overall play was simply a class above. His darting runs, clever balls and seemingly perfect vision left a permanent headache for the visitors - who were simply unable to contain the Norwegian.

It's all over at the Emirates Stadium and Arsenal pick up a very comfortable 3 points - after a dominant performance against PSV Eindhoven.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, it's taken short - and the Gunners are in no rush to work it into the box.

Arsenal have a corner, late into the game.

We're into the closing stages here, and barring the most dramatic comeback of all time, it's going to be a very comfortable win for Mikel Arteta's side. Just a few minutes left to play, plus added time.

Fabio Vieira has been a real shining light since coming on. The Portuguese midfielder has been exceptional in attack and really connected the midfield to the attack.

Malik Tillman is yellow carded.

Another double change for the visitors:

André Ramalho replaces Armel Bella-Kotchapp

Yorbe Vertessen replaces Noa Lang

A final substitution for Arsenal:

Jorginho replaces Declan Rice

72: It's 4, and this time it's captain Martin Ødegaard who finds the back of the net from long range! Some great play from Havertz and Smith-Rowe in the build-up before Reiss Nelson tucked it into the Norwegian outside of the box.

Some more substitutes for Arsenal:

Emile Smith-Rowe replaces Gabriel Jesus

Fabio Vieira replaces Bukayo Saka

Substitutes for PSV Eindhoven:

Malik Tillman replaces Ismael Saibari

Hirving Lozano replaces Johan Bakayoko

Arsenal are controlling this game excellently. They're dominating possession, minimising the threat of the visitors and disrupting the flow where possible. 

Substitutes for Arsenal:

Reiss Nelson replaces Leandro Trossard

Takehiro Tomiyasu replaces Oleksandr Zinchenko

Raya with another good save and the Spaniard is looking very comfortable here, despite the inherent pressure on him. Very good with his feet so far as well.

Arsenal have started this half very much on the front foot, and have had a number of promising chances already. 

A great chance for Jesus to grab a brace, but he is dispossessed at the last moment in the box!

We are back underway for the second half!

Sevilla 1-1 RC Lens

With Sevilla and RC Lens currently drawing in Seville, Arsenal sit top of group B. 

If you could hand pick a way to return to Europe's top competition, this would probably be it. They have been ruthless in front of goal, assertive in midfield and solid in defence. 

There are certainly positives to draw from for PSV Eindhoven, but it won't count for much - unless they can pull off one of the best UEFA Champions League comebacks of recent years.

The Gunners head into the break with a comfortable lead, and Peter Bosz's side have much a mountain to climb in the second half.

Ben White is booked after a clumsy foul.

38: Jesus with the third! Trossard makes an excellent run behind the defence, and plays a superb ball to the far side of the box, where Gabriel Jesus was waiting. The Brazilian fired it home beautifully to make it 3-0. 

Arsenal have definitely dropped the intensity after their second goal, but have not become sloppy - and are still controlling the game. PSV Eindhoven certainly don't seem out of it at this stage, though.

The visitors are still creating some nice chances, but have been unable to really challenge the Arsenal defence.

Jesus beats his man on the edge of the area to get a clear shot on goal, but his effort is tipped behind for a corner.

PSV Eindhoven are still creating some promising chances, and have forced Raya into another save. Arsenal by far and away in control of the game though.

20: It's 2-0 and it's a great goal! Jesus with a great run lays it off to Saka - who is able to square it to Trossard, who finishes it from distance.

The visitors seem calm despite going behind early on, and are growing more into the game.

After a short check, VAR decide that Zinchenko did not handball it in the area, and no penalty is given.

8: Arsenal take the lead through Bukayo Saka! The ball falls to Saka after a save from Benítez, and the Englishman taps it home.

Strong appeals for a penalty as Saka is bought down in the area but the referee says no!

The Gunners are somewhat controlling the game early on, but have not yet been able to carve a particularly threatening chance. PSV Eindhoven also look threatening on the counter.

David Raya is forced into an early save after a great run by Noa Lang, but his low shot was not too troubling.

We are underway in North London!

A moment of silence is held for the victims of the tragedies in Libya and Morocco.

As the UEFA Champions League theme tune rings out around the Emirates Stadium once again, the players head out of the tunnel.

The wait is almost over, as we await the players at the Emirates Stadium.

Reflecting on the return of Champions League football to the Emirates Stadium, Arteta said:

"Every game is going to be a special night."

After being dropped against Everton on Sunday, Havertz is back in the starting XI tonight. But, for some Arsenal fans, it really is now or never for the German midfielder:

If Havertz can’t ball with zinchenko and Jesus he needs to ride bench for a while

— .. (@BodegaaCat) September 20, 2023

Others have been far more optimistic about the inclusion of the 24-year-old though, and are confident that his quality will shine through at last:

Champions League night under the lights is the perfect way for Havertz to regain his confidence, enamour himself to the fans and signal his arrival. We need a big performance from him tonight. The time is NOW.

— Mo (@MoArsenal86) September 20, 2023

Kick-off is almost upon us now.

Arsenal have only kept two clean sheets in their last 15 competitive home games - a record that they will not want to worsen this evening.

Can Raya be the key to changing the Gunners' defensive woes?

After losing his place at the weekend, many Arsenal fans expected Aaron Ramsdale to start this game, so his omission has created some fierce conversation online.

Raya starting over Ramsdale is absolutely ruthless from Arteta

Gutted for Ramsdale, he earned tonight

— Rory Talks Football (@Rory_Talks_Ball) September 20, 2023

Others have been less sympathetic towards the England international's situation:

not a big deal. raya is a better goalkeeper, calmer presence, more experienced & better with his feet & better with crosses. don't see the problem. arteta is just protecting ramsdale's feelings by saying he has two number ones. it was raya's shirt all along.

— ◡̈⃝ (@bixouz) September 20, 2023

Kick-off is fast-approaching! Don't forget to check-in with us for live updates throughout the game.

Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Rice, Havertz; Saka, Ødegaard, Trossard; Jesus

PSV Eindhoven XI: Benítez; Teze, Bella-Kotchapp, Boscagli, Dest; Schouten, Veerman; Bakayoko, Saibari, Lang; de Jong

I look forward to bringing the game to you live as it happens, in what is bound to be both an exciting and fascinating encounter. Do not miss a detail of the match Arsenal vs PSV Eindhoven live updates and commentary from VAVEL.

Mumbai - 12:30 AM (Thursday 21st September)

Sydney - 5:00 AM (Thursday 21st September)

Los Angeles - 12:00 PM

Rio de Janeiro - 4:00 PM

Beijing - 3:00 AM (Thursday 21st September)

Cape Town - 9:00 PM

Istanbul - 10:00 PM

For viewers in the United Kingdom, the game is being broadcast live on TNT Sports 1, and will kick-off at 8:00 PM BST.

Although Arsenal are unbeaten this season, and will be full of confidence, their opponents certainly will not be short on confidence themselves.

PSV Eindhoven have not lost a competitive game since 16th February 2023, when Sevilla beat them 3-0 in the Europa League.

This impressive 26-game unbeaten run is exactly the platform they would have hoped for coming into a tough game against Arsenal.

Unfortunately for the visitors, I struggle to see anything other than a home win for the Gunners. It will not come easy, and they will need to be at the top of their game, but the simple fact is - Arsenal are a stronger side, and there is no reason, on paper, why they should not win.

But after the referee blows his whistle to start the game, who knows what could happen? Form goes out of the window and our pre-conceived ideas of the teams are changed by how they perform on the day. That is why we love football, right?

These sides were last pitted against each other just last season, in the group stages of the 2022/23 UEFA Europa League.

Arsenal triumphed as 1-0 victors in London, but had no such fortune in Eindhoven. Here, in the most recent meeting between these sides, PSV Eindhoven won 2-0 - and were full value for their win too. 

Before this, games have always been fairly close between the two sides, with the winning margin being just 1, or a draw, on all six occasions from November 2002 to October 2022.

Luuk De Jong

Without a doubt the biggest threat for the visitors, De Jong has already scored twice in the 2023/24 Champions League qualifiers - as well as notching four goals and three assists in the Eredivisie, in just 4 appearances this season. 

The 33-year-old will undoubtedly test the solidity of Arsenal's defence, and is likely to be the focal point of any positive attacking play from the visitors.

Declan Rice

Rice has already been an integral part of Arteta's system since joining for a total £105m fee, from West Ham earlier this summer. Having proven to be both a leader on the pitch and powerhouse in midfield, the Englishman is certain to be integral in not just this fixture, but the Gunners' entire Champions league campaign. 

Team news of PSV Eindhoven:

The visitors are facing doubts over star forward Noa Lang who, like Martinelli for Arsenal, was forced off through injury at the weekend - though the Dutch forward has travelled with the PSV Eindhoven squad.

They have a more than worthy stand-in available for the 24-year-old, however, with Hirving Lozano now at the club. Many of you will recognise the Mexican's name from his time with Italian side Napoli - whom he won Serie A with last season. 

The Eredivisie runners-ups are also without Armando Obispo, who has not featured since March - when the defender suffered a serious knee injury.

Fredrik Oppegård is also ruled out following an operation that he underwent ahead of the current season. 

Brazilian defender Mauro Júnior suffered a serious knee injury in March and also remains sidelined, as he continues his recovery.

Predicted XI: Benitez; Teze, Ramalho, Bella-Kotchap, Dest; Schouten, Veerman; Bakayoko, Saibari, Lozano; De Jong

Team news of Arsenal: 

Arteta has a number of players unavailable for the game through injury, which will do little to aid his plans. The Gunners continue to be without exciting young fullback Jurriën Timber, who is sidelined with a knee injury. 

Veteran midfielder Thomas Partey also remains absent, after the Ghanian suffered a suspected groin injury.

Another player ruled out, who will be a huge blow for Arsenal, is Gabriel Martinelli. The Brazilian winger was substituted early against Everton after sustaining an injury to his thigh.

Mohamed Elneny is also a doubt, as he continues to recover from a long-term knee injury - but the Egyptian has been training with the first team and is with the squad ahead of the game.

Predicted XI: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Rice, Havertz; Saka, Ødegaard, Trossard; Jesus

The match is going to be refereed by an all-German officiating lineup. The referee is Felix Zwayer, with Stefan Lupp and Eduard Beitinger the assistant referees for the game. To complete the officiating team, Sven Jablonski is the game's fourth official with Marco Fritz on Video Assistant Refereeing duty. 

Despite not having the same riches as their English counterparts, PSV Eindhoven have lost just 3 times against the Gunners, and only once at the Emirates Stadium.

Having been away from Europe's elite competition for so long, Mikel Arteta and his side will be eager to get an early win under their belt, especially at home - against one of the the tougher sides in their group.

The Arsenal vs PSV Eindhoven match will be played at the Emirates Stadium, in London, with a capacity of 60,704 people. The atmosphere at the stadium has become electric over the last few seasons, which means tomorrow is sure to be a special occasion for fans able to attend in person!

My name is Jak Netting and I will be your host for this game. We will provide you with pre-game analysis, score updates and news as it happens live here on VAVEL. It is bound to be an exciting match as Arsenal return to the competition for the first time since the 2016/17 edition of the competition - so make sure you join us here live on VAVEL.com!