Arsenal didn’t deserve to walk out of Paris with a point, but they have due to the individual brilliance of Alexis Sanchez.
Even when Arsenal fans cry out for a striker, they’re not short on attacking options. That’s because as long as Alexis Sanchez is playing, they have a chance to win. The way he dribbles on the ball, he can create scoring chances out of nothing. And even when Arsenal are thoroughly outplayed, he’s usually the one who ends up coming to the rescue.
That’s exactly what happened when Arsenal played Paris Saint-Germain. They found themselves trailing just 44 seconds in, and could’ve been down 2-0 if Edinson Cavani didn’t have a miss for the ages. The final stats indicated a tight contest — 52-48 percent possession favoring PSG, as well as 4-3 shots on target — but if Arsenal wanted a point, they needed a miracle. That’s when Alexis Sanchez, who has bailed out Arsenal on so many occasions, did so again:
Game on at #PSGvAFC. @Alexis_Sanchez levels things up with a fine finish. 1-1. #UCL https://t.co/olJLXcY4wl
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 13, 2016
Really an incredible strike, but had Marquinhos’ header been a few inches to the left, it would’ve been for naught. With Mesut Ozil being more of a set-up man, and Olivier Giroud’s inconsistent displays frustrating Arsenal fans the world over, you can hardly find an attacker who’s more dependable than Sanchez. That’s why fans always lament how well they could be playing with another striker.
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Regardless, this is the best result that Arsenal fans could’ve hoped for. The away fixture to Paris Saint-Germain was the hardest match in their group, and getting a point should give them real hope of earning a better result at home. This draw also extended Arsene Wenger’s unbeaten streak in France, as he clearly loves going back to his home country.
After this result, Arsenal fans will surely want to win the group to avoid a difficult draw in the knockout round.