PSV Eindhoven have started to up the ante ahead of Thursday’s clash with Arsenal, with a pre-match tweet prompting something of a backlash from Gunners fans.
The two sides finally go head-to-head at the Emirates in a fixture that had to be postponed following the death of Queen Elizabeth II at the start of last month.
Arsenal had originally been scheduled to take on this week – with nine other Premier League matches taking place across Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday – but that match will now be played at a later date in order to allow the Gunners to fulfil their European commitments.
Thursday’s face-off is the start of a potentially decisive double header which is likely to determine who wins Group A – and thus avoids facing a drop-out in the play-offs next February.
Arsenal currently top the table with three wins and nine points, but positive results for PSV over the next few days – with Arsenal travelling to Eindhoven next week – could see the Dutch side take control of the group.
Ahead of that first encounter on Thursday evening, PSV’s Twitter account decided to begin ramping things up with a rather loaded tweet.
The Dutch side uploaded a photo of youngster Xavi Simons – who has eight goals in 10 Eredivisie appearances this season – doing a rather familiar celebration, alongside the caption: ‘Calling Arsenal. Is Gabriel Jesus at home?’
Arsenal supporters did not seem to take too kindly to the goading, with PSV’s Twitter account flooded with messages from Gunners fans suggesting they might regret the post – especially if Mikel Arteta uses it as motivation like he famously did with a tweet from Ivan Toney last season.
‘You don’t want to make that call bro,’ wrote one fan in response to PSV’s post, while others said Jesus – who has not started in the Europa League this season – would likely be rested but ‘Eddie Nketiah can pick up your call instead’.
Jesus has made two brief cameos off the bench against FC Zurich and Bodo/Glimt, while Nketiah has started all three group matches, netting twice and laying on one assist.
On Wednesday morning, meanwhile, PSV announced their squad list for the match with three previously injured players all available for selection.
The Dutch side have been without Luuk de Jong, Mauro Junior and Noni Madueke – formerly of Tottenham – in recent months but all three are on the plane to London, with Ruud van Nistelrooy’s players training at the Emirates later today.
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