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Champions League | Group Stage
Sep 13, 2016 at 7.45pm UK
 
Arsenal logo

1-1

Cavani (1')
Verratti (94')
FT(HT: 1-0)
Sanchez (77')
Giroud (94')

Live Commentary: Paris Saint-Germain 1-1 Arsenal - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live coverage of Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
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A late goal from Alexis Sanchez has earned Arsenal a 1-1 draw away at Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

PSG needed just 42 seconds to open the scoring as Edinson Cavani glanced a header into the bottom corner but they could not net a second and were ultimately made to pay by Sanchez.

The Chilean lashed the ball into the bottom corner after it had fallen invitingly for him inside the penalty area and the Gunners were able to hold on for what could prove to be an important point.

Read below to see how the action unfolded in the Parc des Princes.


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Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Champions League fixture between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal.

It's that time of year again, folks. The time where Arsenal start their group-stage campaign in the Champions League - something which has occurred for the past 18 seasons, with this being their 19th successive year in European football's premier competition. Arsene Wenger comes in for plenty of criticism for Arsenal's lack of trophies but it's difficult to argue with the regularity in which he achieves a place in the Champions League.

That said, Arsenal have not progressed past the last 16 of this competition since 2010 and Wenger will be under pressure to ensure that streak ends this year. They would improve their chances by finishing in first position in Group A and a positive result in Paris would put them in pole position to achieve that in December.

Anyway, without further ado, let's take a look at the team news that is emerging from the changing rooms at the Parc des Princes...

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN XI: Areola, Aurier, Marquinhos, T Silva, Maxwell, Verratti, Krychowiak, Rabiot, Di Maria, Cavani, Matuidi

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN SUBSTITUTES: Trapp, Kimpembe, Lucas, Motta, Pastore, Meunier, Jese

ARSENAL XI: Ospina, Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Cazorla, Iwobi, Ozil, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sanchez

ARSENAL SUBSTITUTES: Cech, Gibbs, Perez, Giroud, Holding, Xhaka, Elneny

Some interesting choices from Wenger. It probably should not come as a huge surprise that Ospina has been drafted in for Cech but it's certainly a risk. The exclusion of Xhaka is sure to be criticised, with Wenger choosing to go with Coquelin and Cazorla. In attack, Sanchez gets the nod of Giroud, who must make do with a place on the bench. It's still a strong-looking team but when you look at the substitutes, you realise that Wenger has made some big calls...

The same can be said of PSG boss Unai Emery, who has decided to play goalkeeper Alphonse Areola. Like Ospina, he is yet to taste first-team football this season but having featured on a regular basis for Villarreal last season, he has experience of the big stage.

We have plenty more going on at Sports Mole this evening. As well as this game, we are covering Manchester City's clash with Borussia Monchengladbach (weather-permitting...) and Celtic's trip to Camp Nou to face Barcelona. You can access both matches by clicking here.

HEAD TO HEAD! Remarkably, this is only the third fixture to take place between the two teams. They both occurred with weeks of each other back in 1994 as they met in a Cup Winners Cup tie. After a 1-1 draw in Paris, Kevin Campbell netted an early goal at Highbury to send the Gunners through to the final where they defeated Parma.

Postponements in the Champions League are extremely rare but it appears that we could be getting one at the Etihad Stadium. Over the past few hours, storms have hit central England with Manchester being one of the biggest casualties. You may have seen images on social media of water flowing through the city centre and it's no different at the Etihad with numerous puddles on the playing surface. Catch up with the latest by clicking here.

Anyway, back to this game and one of the biggest talking points heading into the fixture was the potential absence of Koscielny, who sustained a facial injury against Southampton at the weekend. The centre-back is Arsenal's leading player in defence and it was vitally important that he was selected in such an important fixture. Rob Holding has potential but he probably isn't ready for Champions League football so the inclusion of Koscielny is a huge boost for the North Londoners. He could also pose a big threat from set pieces in the final third with Arsenal lacking height in attacking areas.

The other two teams in this group are Basel and Ludogorets. Basel have plenty of European pedigree and will be a danger to both PSG and Arsenal, while Ludogorets will be classed as the whipping boys of the group. However, fans of Liverpool will remember almost being shocked by the Bulgarians at Anfield in 2014 and they've also ran Real Madrid close at their home ground. Don't be surprised if they have their own say over the next few months.

POSTPONED! There had been reports that the wet conditions had eased at the Etihad but it has now been announced that Manchester City's showdown with Borussia Monchengladbach has been cancelled. Read all the details here.

Fortunately, there are no such problems in Paris where it is dry and around 28C. Match prediction coming right up...

PREDICTION! Neither side have started the season in the manner they would have hoped for they both possess quality all over the pitch and we think they will cancel each other out. Expect PSG to have more of the ball but Arsenal have Giroud and Perez to throw on if they need to go in search of an equaliser. A 1-1 draw.

The two teams are only just emerging from the tunnel. Looks like we will be starting slightly late here but no more than a couple of minutes.

Isn't it great to hear the Champions League anthem again? There's an heck of an atmosphere in the Parc des Princes.

Finally, we are underway!

GOAL! Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 Arsenal (Cavani)

Well that could have gone better...

Just 42 seconds are on the clock when Cavani gets inbetween the two Arsenal centre-backs to glance a header into the bottom corner of the net. It's a terrific cross from Aurier but Arsenal have started slowly here. Wenger does not look amused.


Arsenal are having a lot more of the ball now but it is involving Sanchez coming deep to collect the ball, leaving the Gunners with minimal options in the final third. It's still early days but it appears that Wenger has got this very wrong.

PSG win a corner over on the far side of the pitch but it comes to nothing. The French champions are likely to be a threat from set pieces. The only height in Arsenal's team comes through the centre-backs.

BOOKING! Verratti goes into the book from a very rash challenge on Iwobi. He argues that it is his first offence but I have seen players sent off for tackles like that. Lucky boy.

PSG win another corner - this time on the opposite side - and Silva is found inside the box but despite being able to get a free header in on goal, the Brazilian sees his effort blocked by a defender.

SAVE! Ospina makes a brilliant save from Di Maria but it's not from a shot, it's from a corner! It's a vicious, inswinging delivery from the Argentine but the goalkeeper manages to tip the ball wide for another corner.

Arsenal win their first corner of the match and it could have perhaps led to a goal. A good delivery from Cazorla finds Mustafi but the summer signing mis-times his header and it goes well off target.

The two teams are having an equal share of possession now but if there was to be a second goal, you feel as though it will come from PSG. They look very slick on the ball and keen to take advantage of the uncertainty in the Arsenal defence.

Much better from Arsenal who manage to get the byline through Monreal and after the Spaniard floats the ball to Oxlade-Chamberlain at the back post, the winger has every chance of equalising but he heads back across goal and Marquinhos clears.

BOOKING! Coquelin goes into the book for a studs-up challenge on Krychowiak. Fortunately, he doesn't make full contact because if he had, he could have been walking off the pitch.

Some of the crosses that Aurier has produced have been sublime. The latest one caused Mustafi to get a foot in but he was only able to send the ball over his own crossbar. He didn't look in full control of that.

We are half an hour through this game and aside from the goal, neither goalkeeper has been forced into too much action. Ospina prevented Di Maria's corner from going straight in but apart from that, it's been relatively quiet. PSG still the better team, however.

CHANCE! What a let-off for Arsenal! A through-ball is only half cut out by Monreal and Cavani picks up the loose ball and takes it past Ospina. However, with a defender making his way back to the line, he rushes his effort and puts it wide of the near post. He definitely should have scored there.

You have to feel that Arsenal need half time here. PSG are starting to dominate in all areas of the pitch and the Gunners are doing a lot of chasing. It's a long way back if the home side nick a second.

Arsenal have a bit more joy in the final third but their final ball is letting them down. Don't be surprised to see either Iwobi or Oxlade-Chamberlain withdrawn at the break with Giroud going into attack. Sanchez is not the striker they need in this game. He should be out wide.

Wenger is prowling the touchline trying to instruct his players to close PSG down but it's easier said than done. They have retained possession superbly tonight.

HALF TIME: Paris Saint-Germain 0-0 Arsenal

With no added time, the referee blows for half time in Paris and PSG deservedly hold an advantage over a below-par Arsenal who need to make alterations. They have been second best all over the pitch. Will Wenger change personnel or just tactics? We will find out in just under 15 minutes.

The two teams are finally making their way back out. It doesn't look like Arsenal have made any alterations...

Arsenal get us back underway...

Mustafi finds himself in the right-back position and he manages to draw a foul out of Cavani. Ozil's free kick is heading towards the German but PSG easily clear.

Arsenal have started this second half much better than the first but without a proper frontman, it could take something special to break down this PSG defence. It's not often that Arsenal fans call for Giroud but this is the case here.

The Gunners are still having the better of it now but they need to be wary of the PSG counter-attack. Di Maria was just sent clear of the defence but Monreal did well to get back and put the Argentine off before he could get a shot away. It was surely 2-0 had he been able to.

Sanchez is demanding that the ball be played over the top and into some space where he is able to run into but he's not helping his teammates by previously looking for the short ball. He's done a lot of work off the ball this evening without much reward.

We are an hour through this game and Wenger is still to make a change. I suppose he can argue that at 1-0, his team are still in it but they are still living very dangerously. Surely we will see a new face sooner rather than later...

SUBSTITUTION! Unsurprisingly, Wenger decides enough is enough and throws on Giroud for Oxlade-Chamberlain. Sanchez has moved over to the left-hand side. Will it make a difference?

Straightaway, there's a greater urgency in Arsenal's play and it takes a last-ditch challenge from Marquinhos to deny Iwobi getting a shot on goal from close-range. Sanchez was the instigator. Much better from the English side.

CHANCE! That would have been some second goal. Di Maria and Aurier exchange several quick passes before Aurier gets in behind Monreal but he can't manoeuvre the ball past an advancing Ospina, who has done little wrong this evening.

SAVE! Moments later, Ospina comes to Arsenal's rescue again! Rabiot and Cavani combine before the Uruguayan gets a chance to move in on goal but the goalkeeper comes out to block the ball before he can get his shot away.

SUBSTITUTION! A second change for Arsenal and it's Xhaka for Coquelin. It's a strange change at 1-0 down...

SAVE! Yet another save from Ospina! It may have been going over anyway but the goalkeeper does well to tip Di Maria's half-volley over the crossbar. PSG are pushing for a second and Arsenal are not pushing for an equaliser...

GOAL! Paris Saint-Germain 1-1 Arsenal (Sanchez)

Completely against the run of play, Arsenal have their equaliser! After the ball was cut back to Iwobi, his shot was well blocked by Areola but the ball fell invitingly for Sanchez who lashed the ball into the bottom corner from 14 yards. Now then, can they hold on?

CHANCE! Arsenal should be ahead! This is turned into an end-to-end contest and Arsenal almost found a second through Iwobi, who saw his shot that was heading towards the far corner well blocked by Areola.

SUBSTITUTION! We are getting mixed signals from Wenger. He now appears to be shutting up shop with the introduction of Elneny for Ozil.

All three results are still possible here. PSG desperately want maximum points but Arsenal look threatening on the break. Two minutes plus added-on time to go.

There will be four minutes of added-on time.

RED CARDS What's gone on here?! Verratti and Giroud have both been sent off after picking up yellow cards for an off-the-ball incident not seen by the referee or us!

FULL TIME: Paris Saint-Germain 1-1 Arsenal

What a conclusion. PSG almost won it with the last action of the game but after Marquinhos's header went marginally wide, the referee blew for full time. It's barely deserved but Wenger won't care. This is a huge result for Arsenal.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this game. Thank you for joining us this evening and we hope that you can stick around for all of the reaction that is to come. Goodbye for now!

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Paris Saint-Germain's Uruguayan forward Edinson Cavani celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League group A football match between Paris and Malmo on September 15, 2015
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