side from the fact that the team’s most viable option up front (Olivier Giroud) got sent off, a 1-1 draw at the Parc de Princes is a solid start. In the past, particularly last season, Arsenal choked in the first few matches of the Champions League group stage and had to fight back in the last four matches to come back.
Away to PSG with the weird lineup Arsene Wenger chose to go with for the opening Champions League match, the worst was expected in the pre-match build up. With Cazorla and Coquelin starting as a double pivot in midfield again, lack of defensive prowess and a booking were expected from the two respectively, and each happened. After a goal inside the first minute of the match, panic mode set in.
It was a typical Arsenal start to a match, but after Edinson Cavani wasted plenty of chances, things started to calm down, although there was not much of a sign of an equaliser from the visitors.
The equaliser finally came in the 77th minute, with Alexis Sanchez smashing home a rebound off Alex Iwobi’s shot. For the next 10 minutes or so, the game seemed to settle, until a scuffle between Marquinhos and Olivier Giroud got the striker and Marco Verratti, a minor culprit in the situation sent off.
Other than a yellow card for Coquelin and the red card for Giroud, it was a fine match from the Gunners’ standpoint. A point on the road against the strongest team in the group is better than what the team has salvaged in past years, and with weaker teams like Ludogorets and Basel in Arsenal’s group, Arsene Wenger should look for his team to capitalize against them and take six points from each.
If Arsenal can get another draw in the reverse fixture, there will be no complaints. As long as Wenger can get his men to avoid a big loss to the Parisians, or any other team in the group for that matter, then the north London club will go into the knockout rounds with some confidence and momentum. A win at home against PSG and good results against the other clubs would probably secure top spot in the group, and if that is the case, then the club will look to make a deep run in the Champions League for the first time in a long time.
