CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Hirving Lozano’s PSV Eindhoven lose to impressive Arsenal
The Mexican forward came off the bench in the Champions League but his side were comfortably beaten at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal cruised past PSV Eindhoven at Emirates Stadium in their first Champions League fixture in six years.
The Gunners ran out 4-0 winners thanks to goals from Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard.
It was a night to forget for Hirving Lozano on his return to Champions League action for PSV. He re-joined the club from Napoli in the summer but is yet to make a start for the club.
On Wednesday he came off the bench for the final 25 minutes at the Emirates Stadium but his side were already three goals down at the time. Lozano, often referred to by his nickname ‘Chucky’, starred for PSV for two seasons before making the move to Naples. He scored 40 goals in 79 appearances during his first spell but is yet to get off the mark since returning.
Why didn’t Ricardo Pepi start for PSV Eindhoven?
In the past year PSV have sold a number of promising players to the Premier League for major transfer fees. Last January Cody Gakpo and Noni Makueke left for Liverpool and Chelsea, respectively, and Nottingham Forest snapped up Ibrahim Sangaré this summer.
PSV have reinvested some of that money to bolster their forward line, bringing in both Lozano and American striker Ricardo Pepi. However experienced forward Luuk de Jong was preferred as a lone striker to take on Arsenal.
Both recent signings started on the bench against Arsenal but Pepi only made it on to the pitch in the final minutes, replacing De Jong.
Last weekend both Lozano and Pepi were on the pitch at the same time for PSV, but ended up arguing over who would take a late penalty. Lozano was making his first appearance since re-signing with PSV and wanted to mark his return with a goal, while Pepi was still searching for his first goal since signing.
Eventually André Ramalho stepped in and gave Pepi the spot kick, which he duly converted.