Arsenal miss chance to wrap up top spot with PSV defeat

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