ARSENAL were neutralised in the Netherlands last night (Thursday) as PSV Eindhoven handed the Premier League leaders a hiding at the Philips Stadion.

The Gunners set out to seal top spot in their Europa League group with a game to spare. But instead rotation took its toll on Mikel Arteta’s small squad as PSV ran out 2-0 winners in a one-sided encounter.

Reflecting on the defeat, Arteta said: “I’m very disappointed. It’s the end of a long run where we won a lot of games and tonight is our first defeat [since the start of September] and we have to reset.

“Congratulations to PSV – they were the better team. We were nowhere near our level. We didn’t get any control. We didn’t get the ball in the areas we wanted. We gave so many balls away, which allowed so many transitions, which was what they were looking for.”

Looking ahead to back-to-back home games against Nottingham Forest this Sunday, and then Zurich in the Europa League on Thursday, Arteta added: “It’s really difficult to win every game in Europe. We are still in a really good position. We’re disappointed tonight but there’s no time to feel sorry for ourselves. We have to react.

“On Sunday, we have a really important game, and then we’ll look at Zurich. We have to be much better than we were tonight. We knew what they were trying to do and the way we executed certain actions, the way we competed, it wasn’t good enough.”

A sublime second-half cameo from Luuk de Jong moved the game beyond Arsenal. The striker came off the bench to set up the opening goal for Joey Veerman, holding off Rob Holding before squaring the ball for the midfielder, who slotted home.

De Jong then capitalised on a mistake from Aaron Ramsdale to head home a second. Covering for usual European goalkeeper Matt Turner, who was injured, it was a moment to forget for Ramsdale as he marked his European debut by punching at air when trying to clear Cody Gakpo’s corner.

PSV, managed by former Man United forward Ruud van Nistelrooy, had three goals ruled out for offside on a night where the north Londoners were well and truly humbled.

Arsenal must now beat Zurich in their final group game on Thursday at the Emirates Stadium to guarantee a place in the last 16. If they fail to win and PSV beat Bodo/Glimt in Norway, Arteta’s side will face two extra games in the knockout round playoffs, where teams that finish third in the Champions League group stage will be waiting – including Barcelona, and possibly Atletico Madrid, Ajax, Juventus and even Spurs.