LONDON — Arsenal beat PSV Eindhoven, 1-0, on Thursday and stayed perfect in their Europa League quest, continuing their good form that has them top of the Premier League.
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Although the match stayed deadlocked much of the night as Arsenal failed to put away chances, Granit Xhaka scored the game-winner in the 70th minute.
ESPN’s Connor O’Halloran has reaction and analysis from Emirates Stadium.
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Rapid reaction
1. Arsenal poised to win Europa League group
Arsenal‘s last defeat in any competition came against Manchester United on Sept. 4. In fact, it’s the only game they haven’t won all season.
The good times are here in the red half of north London: they have achieved their best-ever start to a Premier League season after 10 games, and remain flawless in the Europa League with four wins from four, clinching a spot in the knockout round with two group games to spare.
As such, they are five points clear of PSV and within inches of winning the group, bypassing the first knockout round — which are squeezed days after the group stage end on Nov. 7.
Dropping points against PSV on Thursday would have been a danger — not just because they would face the threat of coming second and staring down Champions League opposition, but it would also mean two more games in a season sandwiched either side of the World Cup. To prove serious title contenders to Manchester City, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s side must avoid playing an extra game, and against PSV they ensured just that.
