Perfect PSV can end group stage campaign in style against Arsenal

PSV Eindhoven welcome Arsenal tonight in Matchday 6 of this season's Champions League group stage.

Both sides have already secured their place in the knockout phase, with the Gunners' 6-0 victory over Lens seeing them claim top spot with a game to spare.

But while PSV are unable to leapfrog Mikel Arteta's side, they will be eager to continue their blistering start to the campaign.

We take a closer look at Peter Bosz's side, who are yet to drop a single point in the Eredivisie.

Perfect start

PSV took their record to 15 wins from 15 league matches last Thursday with a 2-0 victory over Heerenveen.

The result came just four days after Bosz's outfit defeated title rivals Feyenoord 2-1 away from home.

PSV are now a whopping 10 points clear at the summit, comfortably the biggest advantage of any side in Europe's major leagues.

The 24-time Dutch champions also thrashed Ajax 5-2 in October thanks to a hat-trick from ex-Napoli winger Hirving Lozano.

Goals, goals, goals

PSV's impressive start to the campaign has featured a plethora of goals, a trademark of Bosz's exciting, attack-minded playing style.

In 15 league matches, they have rippled the back of the net 52 times — an average of 3.5 per match.

Ex-Newcastle striker Luuk de Jong has been their most potent force in front of goal, with the 33-year-old scoring 10 times and registering six assists.

Elsewhere, midfield maestro Joey Veerman and tricky winger Johan Bakayoko lead the assist charts in the Dutch top flight with nine and eight respectively — to go with their three goals apiece. 

Netherlands international Guus Til, 25, is the other PSV squad member to have already recorded 10 or more goal contributions this season, scoring seven and setting up three more.

Rock-solid defence

While much of the praise has been reserved for PSV's free-flowing attack, their defence has shone too.

Bosz's team have conceded just six goals in the league this season, with goalkeeper Walter Benitez keeping a division-high 10 clean sheets.

The Argentine has, of course, benefitted from the fact his side average 61.2% possession, although he boasts the best save efficiency in the Eredivisie by keeping out 86.2% of the shots on his goal.

And Monaco-born centre-back Olivier Boscagli has forged a formidable partnership with Andre Ramalho.

Boscagli leads the way for interceptions made (27) and his stable presence allows the likes of Sergino Dest, Jordan Teze and Patrick van Aanholt to add more strings to the attacking bow from out wide.

Revenge mission

Arsenal are the only team to inflict misery on PSV this season, the Gunners winning 4-0 in the reverse fixture.

The Dutch side will be out for revenge, however Bosz will have one eye on Sunday's match at third-place AZ Alkmaar — their final league outing before the winter break.

He may look to rest key players against the North Londoners as a result, although PSV's squad depth means they will still be able to put out an exciting side regardless.

United States internationals Malik Tilman and Ricardo Pepi may have significant roles to play from the start, with the latter scoring two minutes after coming off the bench against Heerenveen.

A potentially makeshift Gunners side face a tough evening at the Philips Stadium.