PSG vs. Arsenal: Arsene Wenger Talks Edinson Cavani, Olivier Giroud Red Card

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger singled out Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani for praise after the Gunners' 1-1 draw with the French giants on Tuesday, despite the Uruguayan missing a host of chances that could have won his side the match. 

Alexis Sanchez scored a 77th-minute equaliser to salvage a point for Arsenal in their opening group-stage game of the 2016-17 UEFA Champions League after Cavani had opened the scoring in the first minute at the Parc des Princes.

PSG should have put the game to bed long before Sanchez's goal, as Serge Aurier and Angel Di Maria both had opportunities, and Cavani spurned several golden chances, per the Times' Henry Winter:

However, Wenger—who has previously been reported as being interested in signing Cavani, per Uche Amako of the Express—praised the forward's performance, per Arsenal's official website: "I think Cavani was good tonight if I’m honest. I think he was very effective in terms of his pressing."

Certainly Cavani caused Arsenal's defence a number of problems throughout the 90 minutes and was brilliant in carving out opportunities for himself, even if he could not finish them, per French football writer Matt Spiro:

He also put the responsibility for PSG failing to win on himself after the match, per PA Sport (via ESPN FC): "I take responsibility for [us not winning] because I only scored the one goal, and those two points we dropped will be important at the end of the competition."

If nothing else, Cavani enjoyed a better night than Arsenal's No. 1 striker, Olivier Giroud, who Wenger brought on as a substitute just after the hour only for him to be sent off for picking up a second yellow card in stoppage time.

The Frenchman's second yellow card was for an off-the-ball altercation with PSG's Marco Verratti—the Italian was also given his marching orders as a result.

Wenger revealed that, though he did not see the incident himself, neither player believed they deserved to be carded: 

"

The ball was on the other side, I did not see what happened. I think the first yellow card [for Giroud] was very harsh already, it wasn’t a foul. The second, he tells me he has done nothing at all and Olivier is honest so I believe him. And Verratti told me as well that he has done nothing, so I said look, "go together to see the referee and tell him you did nothing".

"

However, Giroud put himself in a position to be sent off after committing numerous transgressions in the short time he was on the pitch, per Squawka:

The French forward will now miss Arsenal's next Champions League game—at home to Basel—potentially providing new signing Lucas Perez with a chance to shine at the Emirates Stadium.