Arsenal were lucky to escape with a point as they drew 1-1 with PSG in their Champions League first leg encounter.
Arsene Wenger made two risky team selections by starting with David Ospina in goal while Alexis Scanhez was preferred to Olivier Giroud. It was a decision which backfired as Arsenal were thoroughly outplayed for much of the match. Only after Wenger made changes to his line-up did Arsenal look like anything of an attacking threat as Sanchez struck to earn the Gunners a point.
PSG started like a house on fire with Edinson Cavani scoring after just 45 seconds. Serge Aurier powered down the right wing before delivering a delicious cross for an unmarked Cavani to head home. Arsenal were stunned and could have been two down moments later when Mustafi allowed Cavani to nip in on goal only for the Uruguayan to put his shot wide.
Arsenal were being ripped apart in midfield in what was termed a training ground exercise by one of the commentators. PSG peppered David Ospinas goal in wave after wave of attacks but the Colombian shot stopper held the fort, producing a string of world class saves. The teams went into the halftime break with the solitary goal separating them although it could quite easily have been four or five nil.
The second half started much like the first with Aurier running riot down the right flank and Arsenal chasing shadows in midfield. Arsene Wenger changed things after 64 minutes by bringing on Olivier Giroud in place of Oxlade Chamberlain. The move seemed to wake Arsenal from their slumber as they began to win more posession and launch attacks of their own.
Arsenal were level after 75 minutes when Sanches, now in his favorite position, linked up with Ozil to create a chance for Iwobi. The 21 year old fired a shot on goal which was saved by Areola but he couldn’t stop Sanchez from scoring on the rebound. It was a cruel blow for PSG who should have been home and dry but for Cavanis wastefulness in front of goal.
The match ended in a draw but Arsenal fans will feel they dodged a bullet. Arsene Wenger got his selection horribly wrong and were it not got Cavani wasting chances, they would have been in a worse position.