Wenger: Arsenal benefited from PSG dropping pace

A drop-off in the pace of Paris Saint-Germain’s play enabled Arsenal to earn a 1-1 Champions League draw at the Parc des Princes, according to Arsene Wenger.

It took just 42 seconds for the French champions to get off the mark, Edinson Cavani heading home from Serge Aurier’s right-wing cross.

The Uruguayan missed an open goal late in the first half, while excellent goalkeeping from David Ospina kept him, as well as Aurier and Angel Di Maria, at bay in the second half.

Alexis Sanchez scored 12 minutes from time to send the Gunners back to London with a point, and Wenger felt his team exploited a drop in PSG’s energy and merited the result.

“Being behind after one minute, we had time to make corrections. Mentally, we stayed in the game,” he told beIN Sport.

“We had more freedom in the second half, we controlled the ball better. We came back to score, which we deserved.

“We benefited from PSG lowering their pace. We were drowned in the first period and we lost a lot of duels in midfield. In the second half it was much better.”

Arsenal will be without Olivier Giroud for their next Champions League outing against Basel on September 28 after he was dismissed for a confrontation with Marco Verratti, who also saw red.