Xhaka still not trusted

Arsenal spent £25million on Granit Xhaka this summer and yet Arsene Wenger still does not trust him in the biggest games. He was on the bench here, just as he was for last Saturday’s trip to Old Trafford, the big home win over Chelsea and the trip to Paris back in September.

Wenger is only willing to play Xhaka, it feels, in the easier games, where he can trust him. This is a curious situation, to say the least. Arsenal would not have signed Xhaka without thorough research. But he might need to prove that he can be trusted not to get booked before he can become a regular.

Ramsey's run cause problems

Dropping Xhaka meant that Aaron Ramsey started and he proved again that he does offer something different to the Arsenal midfield.

Even playing after recent injections for a broken toe, Ramsey provided those cutting forward runs which give Arsenal a better option in the box.

None of Arsenal’s other midfielders do that and, with a sequence of games, Ramsey would certainly become the incisive goal-threat he has been here in the past.

Whether he can get that run, in his favoured central midfield position, is another question.

Arsenal vs PSG player ratings Show all 22 1 /22 Arsenal vs PSG player ratings Arsenal vs PSG player ratings david-ospina.jpg Two crucial saves in the second half kept things level after the equaliser. Nothing he could’ve done for Cavani’s opener, although positioning could’ve been better for Lucas’s header. That said, he will have had faith in his defender on the post. Getty Arsenal vs PSG player ratings carl-jenkinson.jpg Bore the brunt of the home fans’ frustrations in the first half as two poor crosses killed off rare chances for the home side. Saw the best and worst of him after the break, as his low cross led to Verratti’s own goal and pivotal touch in defence took the ball away from Matuidi, only for the England right-back to lose Lucas for the crushing equaliser. Getty Arsenal vs PSG player ratings laurent-koscielny.jpg A very poor showing by his standards, as he gifted at least three chances to PSG’s attack. Lost Cavani for the first goal and tried to take Lucas on when playing out of defence, only to lose possession, foul the Brazilian and receive a booking. Getty Arsenal vs PSG player ratings shkodran-mustafi.jpg Made two well-timed interceptions but missed the ball when alone with Cavani that was lucky not to be punished. Rolled by Matuidi that led to the opener, which had to go down as his fault. Getty Arsenal vs PSG player ratings kieran-gibbs.jpg Goalline clearance prevented Arsenal from going behind early on, and he was very reliable when it came to his defensive duties. Pressing his case to replace Monreal on a permanent basis, but could offer more going forward. Getty Arsenal vs PSG player ratings aaron-ramsey.jpg Lively from the off with a firm tackle on Lucas inside the opening minute. This was his first outing of the season in the centre of midfield, but he was unable to strike up a partnership with Coquelin and at times went roaming to leave Arsenal exposed. Getty Arsenal vs PSG player ratings francis-coquelin.jpg Caught napping by Cavani that nearly led to an early opener for the French side, with Coquelin’s deflection nearly going in his own net. Grew into the game defensively, but he doesn’t work well with Ramsey in midfield and he was rightly booked after going over the ball and collecting Thiago Motta. Getty Arsenal vs PSG player ratings alexis-sanchez.jpg Was he fouled? Contact with Krychowiak looked minimal for the spot kick, but it was enough to win a penalty for his side regardless. Moved away from his central role to return to the left wing, and his impact was reduced significantly as a result. Getty Arsenal vs PSG player ratings mesut-ozil.jpg Beautiful inside pass deceived the PSG defence to find Sanchez that led to the penalty. Always probing to try get Arsenal playing forward and retained possession well when under pressure, but was left isolated. Getty Arsenal vs PSG player ratings alexi-iwobi.jpg Worried the PSG defence with his direct running forwards, but each time he reached the area he looked unsure of himself and reluctant to shoot. Should have done better to clear the ball when standing on the post for Lucas’s goal. Getty Arsenal vs PSG player ratings olivier-giroud-0.jpg Had little to do in the first half as Arsenal failed to put any meaningful attacks together, but remained calm to convert from the spot and level the scores on the stroke of half-time. Tried to impose on the PSG centre-backs but wasn’t given much assistance and Arsenal didn’t adjust their tactics to suit his needs. Getty Arsenal vs PSG player ratings areola.jpg Very little to do in the first half until he was picking the ball out of his net on the stroke of half-time. Could do nothing to stop the equaliser. Getty Arsenal vs PSG player ratings meunir.jpg Looked to advance early on but didn’t forget his defensive duties. Did well to restrict Iwobi to keep him out of the area. Getty Arsenal vs PSG player ratings marquinhos.jpg Unlucky to see his clearance cannon back off Verratto and into the net. Booked for a cynical foul in halting an Arsenal counter attack, but was otherwise solid, especially in the air. Getty Arsenal vs PSG player ratings thiago-silva.jpg His slight touch nearly led to an early goal from a corner that should’ve rung alarm bells for the home side. Sussed out everything that came his way. Getty Arsenal vs PSG player ratings maxwell.jpg Nullified the threat of Sanchez that eventually saw the Chilean switch to the left flank as he searched for better chances. Sucked in by Ozil that helped lead to the penalty, but that was more to do with his sublime hidden pass than an error of judgement. Getty Arsenal vs PSG player ratings marco-verratti.jpg Misread on Cavani’s early run saw a chance to send the striker through missed, and he was in the wrong place at the wrong time to put the ball in his own net to hand Arsenal the advantage. It rattled him as he then lost possession on the edge of his own area. Getty Arsenal vs PSG player ratings krychowiak.jpg Offered a protective shield for the PSG defence that worked until the dying seconds of the first half when his lunge gave away the penalty. Replaced shortly after the hour as Unai Emery went in search of goals with Hatem Ben Arfa on in his place. Getty Arsenal vs PSG player ratings thaigo-motta.jpg As we’ve come to expect, he didn’t make a great deal of eye-catching contributions but then barely put a foot wrong. Getty Arsenal vs PSG player ratings lucas-moura.jpg Incredibly dangerous with the ball at his feet and linked up well with Cavani that on another day would’ve produced a simple victory. His stunning free-kick deserved a goal as he hit the top side of the cross bar with a fantastic curling effort. Getty Arsenal vs PSG player ratings edinson-cavani.jpg Scored his second goal against Arsenal in as many matches this season, as he was on hand to tap in Matuidi’s inch-perfect pass for the opener. Tormented Koscielny all match and should have had a second when he somehow missed a header that was, by all accounts, a sitter. Still, he showed how lethal he can be, and he just needs to produce it on a more consistent basis. Getty Arsenal vs PSG player ratings blaise-matuidi.jpg Got the better of Mustafi to spring the offside trap and play in Cavani for the opener. Played out of position on the left of the attacking three due to Angel Di Maria and Javier Pastore being injured, and as a result saw his influence somewhat limited. Still, everything he did contribute was a joy to watch. Getty

PSG let Arsenal back into it

Unai Emery was brought in to toughen PSG up, to drive out the complacency that cost them in the Champions League last year, a year when they should have won the competition.

And while they came into this game trying to be compact and rigorous, they let it slip. Grzegorz Krychowiak made a reckless lunge on Alexis Sanchez for the equaliser.

PSG failed to clear a simple ball in the box for the goal that gave Arsenal the lead. While Arsenal eventually let PSG back into the game, they will not always be that lucky.

It appears that Wenger still does not trust Xhaka, who was named among the substitutes (Getty)

Bellerin absence sorely felt

Hector Bellerin is one of the best full-backs in Europe, and was courted by Europe’s best teams until he signed his new contract. Carl Jenkinson is a good player but for the last two seasons Arsenal loaned him out to West Ham United.

The difference between the two players was clear here, as Arsenal desperately lacked Bellerin’s pace and delivery out on the right. Alexis Sanchez, moved back to an inside-right role, looked exasperated with Jenkinson at times as he failed to provide the support Arsenal needed.

He may only be a right back, but Bellerin is one of the most important men to Arsenal’s game. They need him back quickly.

But not as much as Cazorla

The other man that Arsenal miss is Santi Cazorla. Arsenal are meant to be a possession team but they lose all their intelligence and control when he does not play. Here, they struggled to set the tempo or create chances, or to find their front men in good positions.

Ramsey’s runs were good, and Coquelin defended well, but there is no substitute for intelligent passing. This was Arsenal’s third big game in a row, after Tottenham and Manchester United, and they have been outplayed in all three.