It was on 89 minutes in which a window into Mikel Arteta’s psyche latched open.
TThe score was level, the match’s result having no consequence with both Arsenal and PSV Eindhoven already qualified for the Champions League last-16, and the Gunners guaranteed top spot.
Three teenagers, Ethan Nwaneri, Reuell Walters and Lino Sousa, were on the bench with what is almost certainly their only chance to appear for the first-team in Europe this season. The stuff of dreams for a kid.
Yet, Arteta hauled on Gabriel Jesus and Emile Smith Rowe for Reiss Nelson and Kai Havertz. Talk about ruthlessness — and a desire to win any game, no matter what.
The manager did experiment at centre back, playing Declan Rice for the final half an hour in place of William Saliba.
Eddie Nketiah bagged his first Champions League goal to put Arsenal ahead before the break
Yorbe Vertessen restored parity early in the second half as PSV flexed their attacking muscles
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An important ploy to test if either Saliba or Gabriel were to get injured this season. Midfielder Mohamed Elneny was forced off with a hamstring injury last night.
‘We are very short at the back and I really wanted to try if something happens, how we’re going to resolve that situation,’ said Arteta. ‘I thought he was really good.
‘He has a lot of composure on the ball, he wins a lot of duels for a player of his size and he has done it in the past. He is a good option.’
The Spaniard’s overall selection begged the question — if the young guns don’t play now, when will they?
He added: ‘I don’t think it was the right context. Making eight changes already, to throw them in there against a team that hasn’t lost at home in nearly two years, I didn’t think it was the right moment.
‘I wanted to see how the game developed, but it was too much I think for them and as well we had three little issues, and we had to play the subs, and we had no room because we really wanted to play Emile (Smith Rowe) as well.’
Yohan Bakayoko was a constant thorn in Arsenal’s side, wreaking havoc down the right flank
Reiss Nelson turned in an impressive performance and assisted Nketiah for his opening goal
It was the Hale End academy graduates not apprentices who starred, Reiss Nelson teeing up Eddie Nketiah for the Gunners’ sole goal.
The backline was leaky and, on another night, PSV would have punished the visitors further.
Of course, that lack of cohesion was influenced by the eight changes made to the side beaten 1-0 by Aston Villa. In the games coming up, though, the defence will need to be tighter.
The home side struck the goalframe three separate times — Yorbe Vertassen’s shot going in — as they pressed for more in-front of an expectant crowd.
Aside from the woodwork, it was Nelson who starred, shimmying from left to right with an occasional stepover throw in for good measure, too.
Much of the Gunners’s best work forward stemmed from his right wing, the opposing backline stuck as to whether to stay tight or allow him to drift wide.
No matter how strong his performance, and it was excellent, Nelson will know the challenge he faces to even appear off the bench in the forthcoming matches is stark. All he can do is step up when called upon, and he did just that.
PSV’s Johan Bakayoko beat Jakub Kiwior on the overlap after seven minutes, Patrick van Aanholt receiving his cross. He had a shot blocked by a Saliba sliding tackle before standing on Aaron Ramsdale’s ankle.
Could Mikel Arteta have brought on a youngster such as Ethan Nwaneri for experience?
Aaron Ramsdale was kept busy on his Champions League debut as he replaced David Raya
Gabriel then deflected Ricardo Pepi’s strike over, but it was the action prior which left a mark. Ramsdale was left on the floor, clutching above his ankle as the medical staff attended to him.
His eyes darted towards the touchline, David Raya having begun a warm-up. A cue for Ramsdale to brush himself down and continue.
Vertessen’s header was pushed onto a post by Ramsdale after 19 minutes. Elneny shimmied past two players, hitting a post with his shot soon after before the Gunners got one before the break. Eddie Nketiah’s strike went through Andre Ramalho’s legs and in the net.
Vertassen hit the post once again, and this time the ball fell into the goal. Ricardo Pepi had a shot, you guessed it, strike the woodwork, too, but in the end, the spoils were shared.