LONDON -- PSG came away from the Emirates Stadium with a more than deserved point, which takes them top of Group A thanks to a goal from Edinson Cavani and an own goal by Arsenal's Alex Iwobi.
Positives
Thiago Motta picked the perfect moment to deliver his best performance of the season so far. The veteran midfielder was outstanding for the visitors and was influential at the back with a number of important blocks and interceptions, while also orchestrating Cavani's opener.
Lucas Moura, like Motta, produced arguably his best display of the campaign and his header deflected off of Arsenal's Alex Iwobi for the goal that could be enough to send PSG through to the latter stages in the top spot if they can beat Ludogorets Razgrad at home.
The result was the most important thing and although they did not win, which would not have flattered the Ligue 1 giants, they came away with enough to put themselves in pole position to top Group A.
Negatives
Grzegorz Krychowiak had a shocking night in the PSG midfield and looked every bit the player who had not featured significantly since the 2-1 win away at FC Basel last time out in Europe. The Poland international was dispossessed and went to ground too easily to concede the penalty for Arsenal's equaliser and was generally too cumbersome.
However, it would be unfair to lay all the blame at Krychowiak's feet. Unai Emery's decision to start the former Sevilla man was a strange one, considering how little he has featured lately, and it almost backfired. The reason for Krychowiak's rustiness? His boss' rotation system, or lack of one. Edinson Cavani let himself down once again. The Uruguay international scored PSG's opener but after that, his performance went the same way it did at Parc des Princes. El Matador missed a number of good chances to confirm the win.
Manager rating out of 10
7 -- Overall, it was one of Emery's best tactical showings -- even if Krychowiak did his best to undo that -- aligning a surprisingly functional starting XI and changing formation when it was required.
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Alphonse Areola, 6 -- The Frenchman was given no chance from the penalty spot by his compatriot Olivier Giroud and otherwise only had a few balls to claim.
DF Thomas Meunier, 6 -- The Belgium international started in place of Serge Aurier, who was not granted a visa for the match, and put in a solid performance.
DF Marquinhos, 6 -- The Brazilian was commanding at the back alongside captain Thiago Silva but picked up a booking and played a role in Marco Verratti's own goal.
DF Thiago Silva (C), 7 -- The skipper was authoritative and calm at all times but there was nothing he personally could have done to stop either Arsenal goal.
DF Maxwell, 5 -- The veteran Brazilian put in a balanced performance on the left in place of the injured Layvin Kurzawa but lacked the same pace and penetration the Frenchman provides.
MF Grzegorz Krychowiak, 3 -- It was a disastrous evening for the Pole, who conceded the penalty Arsenal equalised from in the first half and looked off the pace until he went off in the second. However, it is not Krychowiak's fault Emery does not use him until he is desperate.
MF Marco Verratti, 5 -- It was not the Italian's finest hour. On the ball, Verratti was not bad but he was booked and scored a calamitous own goal in the space of five second half minutes.
MF Thiago Motta, 8 -- Sublime. It was by far and away the veteran's best performance of the season so far. Motta crunched into every tackle, notably making a superb late challenge on Aaron Ramsey, and was the architect of Cavani's opener.
FW Lucas Moura, 7 -- The Brazilian was a close second to Motta for PSG's man of the match. Lucas not only scored forced Alex Iwobi's own goal with a powerful header, he also clipped the crossbar with a second half free kick and found Cavani to create an excellent late one-on-one opportunity that was wasted.
FW Edinson Cavani, 4 -- The South American might have scored the opening goal but he missed a handful of good chances once again and ended up turning what could have been a decisive performance into a damaging one.
FW Blaise Matuidi, 7 -- The France international was very good in an unfamiliar role wide on the left. Matuidi's pace and power enabled him to get back and help Maxwell at left back against Alexis Sanchez, while he got forward well and provided Cavani with the assist for the opener.
Substitutes
FW Hatem Ben Arfa, 6 -- Sent on after 67 minutes for Krychowiak, the Frenchman was vibrant and whipped in the corner that resulted in the equalising own goal.
FW Jese Rodriguez, NR -- Introduced with just a few minutes to go, the Spaniard packed a lot into his brief cameo. Jese's pace unsettled Arsenal at the back and Laurent Koscielny had to make a superb block to deny a potential winner.