Arsenal...0 PSV...0Arsenal last night failed to score for the first time since losing at Juventus in March but Arsene Wenger will not have been too downheartened. Despite playing for 55 minutes with 10 men, his team not only held but could easily have beaten a hugely disappointing PSV Eindhoven. A draw was also enough for them to win the group.
Arsenal had been poor before Kolo Toure's red card and were understandably not at their best after. But Rami Shaaban had only one save to make and it was impossible to spot that Wenger's team were a man short. Had the substitute Sylvain Wiltord taken one of a couple of chances they might even have won, though PSV hit the bar late on.
PSV had come into this match with more to play for than Arsenal. Whereas Wenger's squad knew before kick-off that they were guaranteed a place in the second group stage, the Dutch club were chasing third spot and entry into the UEFA Cup. This draw and Auxerre's 1-0 win over Dortmund has denied PSV even that.
Toure, filling in at left-back, could have no complaints at the bookings he received for two fouls on Dennis Rommedahl inside six minutes. The second, a trip on the Danish winger, was foolish and showed Toure's lack of experience.
Though a dull first half had been niggly rather than nasty, there was another unsavoury incident - missed by the Norwegian referee - not long after Toure became the 46th player to be sent off since Wenger took over in 1996. Thierry Henry was late in a challenge on Mark van Bommel and the Dutchman appeared to react by spitting towards Henry, who had his back turned.
That at least provided a talking point in a game sadly lacking in incident and quality. Arsenal's lack of incentive and key players made for a first-half display which was workmanlike at best. Their only two opportunities had fallen in the first eight minutes to Francis Jeffers, who should have taken at least one. He had not long headed wide from an excellent Henry cross when he failed to take a one-on-one. Robert Pires's pass put him through but his touch was poor and Ronald Waterreus was able to block.
ARSENAL: Shaaban, Luzhny, Stepanovs, Cygan, Toure, Pires, Vieira (Silva 77), van Bronckhorst, Edu, Henry (Bergkamp 63), Jeffers (Wiltord 69). Subs not used: Taylor, Cole, Ljungberg, Tavlaridis. Sent Off: Toure (35). Booked: Toure.
PSV: Waterreus, Ooijer (Vennegoor of Hesselink 80), Bogelund, Bouma, Hofland, Vogel (Lucius 41), Van Bommel, Rommedahl, Robben, Kezman, Bruggink (Van der Schaaf 71). Subs not used: Ten Rouwelaar, Faber, Heintze, Ramzi. Booked: Vogel, Ooijer, Hofland, Van Bommel, Vennegoor of Hesselink.
Referee: T Obrebo (Norway).
