Paris Saint-Germain took control of Group A in the UEFA Champions League, as they played out a pulsating 2-2 draw against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.
The French champions started quickly and took a deserved early lead through Edinson Cavani. But Arsenal, at the end of a poor opening half, were back on terms thanks to Olivier Giroud's penalty and then ahead after an hour following an own goal from Marco Verratti.
Lucas Moura levelled things up at two with 13 minutes remaining and Cavani could have won it for the visitors, but he spurned two routine chances.
With a superior goal difference and a home clash against Ludogorets Razgrad to come in their final game, the French champions are the big favourites to secure the top spot.
PSG were missing several key players for this crucial fixture, although it was difficult to tell in the early stages, as the visitors dominated.
Cavani gave PSG a deserved lead.
In the 18th minute, they added something tangible to their positive play. Blaise Matuidi energetically escaped the attentions of Shkodran Mustafi on the left flank and fizzed a low cross into the penalty area; as he so often does, Cavani was there ahead of his marker to put the French champions ahead.
It was Cavani's 16th club goal of the season. As noted by Gunnerblog, PSG scythed through the Arsenal defence with ease before the striker added the finishing touch:
Following the opener, the away side continued to control the game. Arsenal were limited to flurries in the final third, although they were without the cutting edge that's been so prominent in the Premier League. But at the end of a frustrating half, the home side were gifted a lifeline.
Giroud netted from the spot.
PSG gave the ball away cheaply in midfield, and the Gunners moved it quickly to Alexis Sanchez in the area. The Chilean was then tripped by Grzegorz Krychowiak, prompting the referee to point to the spot. Giroud stepped up in first-half stoppage time to calmly put the hosts back on terms.
Per OptaJoe, an effort on goal had been a long time coming for the home side, who were fortunate to be level at the break:
After the interval there was immediately more impetus about Arsenal, as they showed more willingness to press PSG. But the visitors offered a reminder of their quality, as Lucas crashed a swirling free-kick against the crossbar.
Arsenal were looking much more threatening, though, and suddenly the visitors seemed to be struggling to cope with the attacking patterns of the hosts. Even so, there was more than a touch of luck about the go-ahead strike.
Verratti was helpless as Marquinhos' clearance rebounded off him.
The ball was crossed into the box and after a scramble looked set to be slashed away by Marquinhos. His attempted clearance hammered off Verratti, though, and back past Alphonse Areola in the PSG goal.
Paul Hayward of the Daily Telegraph felt an improvement in Arsenal's play and a fair chunk of fortune had helped put them in front:
PSG responded well to going behind, with Cavani's surging runs keeping the Arsenal defence on edge. The visitors evidently still believed there was a way back into the contest. With good reason, it transpired.
Admittedly, the defending left much to be desired, as Lucas was left alone at the back post from Hatem Ben Arfa's corner. The Brazilian directed his header back towards goal, and via a deflection from Alex Iwobi, the effort found its way into the back of the net.
Lucas levelled up late on for PSG.
After restoring parity, Cavani had a couple of wonderful chances to win the game, first skewing an effort straight at David Ospina when through on goal and then narrowly heading wide from a brilliant Lucas cross. BBC's John Bennett summed up the Uruguayan's play:
Still, after the cruel way in which they conceded the second goal, the visitors will be delighted with a point in this one.
Arsenal simply weren't good enough on the night. Against a PSG team missing the likes of Serge Aurier and Angel Di Maria, they had a superb chance to secure an important victory. But, as was the case against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday, they were far too passive in all facets of their play.
PSG are in the driver's seat now, and manager Unai Emery will be delighted with how his team performed at a very testing venue. Once again, the Ligue 1 giants have shown they'll be a force to be reckoned with in the deep stages of this competition.
Afterwards, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was disappointed at the manner in which his side surrendered the lead. "We had good spells in the game but we could not dominate," he said, per BBC Sport. "Tonight my concern is that we were 2-1 up and allowed them to come back at us. It's difficult to understand how easy we gave away a goal at a corner."
Gunners full-back Kieran Gibbs believed a point was a fair result. "Overall, I think a draw was what we deserved," said the defender, per the same source. "When we picked up momentum we looked very dangerous, it's just about how we do that more consistently."
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