Arsenal must beware away-goals menace - and Becks can still be a Real force

Remarkably unremarkable: PSV 1 Arsenal 0
Arsenal's insistence on doing things the hard way was highlighted yet again as they picked a rather inopportune time to slip to their first defeat of 2007. Despite marginally outshooting their Dutch opponents and arguably dominating the first half, they left the Philipstadion nursing a 1-0 defeat.

PSV, missing half their top striking partnership in injured Jefferson Farfan, made the most of their opportunities and sealed a good win. Despite leading the Eredivisie, there has been a lack of imperious authority about PSV's performances since the new year. This win should help to reignite the dominance that saw them soar in 2006 and take a handy lead in the race for domestic honours.

On a day when their attack was a little disjointed, the Dutch side’s talismanic rearguard came through with flying colours. Brazilians Gomes, in goal, and centre-half Alex gave a clinic on positioning and snuffing out attacking threats as they ensured Arsenal's attack kept another clean sheet. Gomes's close-range stop from Thierry Henry's turn and shot was crucial in setting the tone of the contest and he ensured that no one and nothing got past him.

On the one occasion that Tomas Rosicky's shot eluded him, Carlos Salcido cleared off the line. In a nutshell, that summed up the performance for Arsenal. Ronald Koeman managed to get an off-colour PSV team to perform much better than the sum of its parts.
PSV might not dazzle and destroy but can make the odd period of dominance pay off in spectacular fashion. A quality oddly lacking in their opponents on the day.