PSV Eindhoven 1, Arsenal 0.

Arsene Wenger accepted his Arsenal side were ''out of rhythm'' after his side went down 1-0 to PSV Eindhoven in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash.

The Gunners never really hit top gear in the Philips Stadium, where chances were at a premium.

In the end, it was a fine long-range effort from Ecuador midfielder Edison Mendez on the hour which settled matters - and gave the Dutch league leaders a slender advantage to take back to Emirates Stadium in a fortnight's time.

Arsenal, had been on top for spells during the first period but, crucially, were unable to turn their dominance into goals.

Tomas Rosicky saw one effort hacked off the line, while PSV keeper Gomes also denied captain Thierry Henry and, late on, midfielder Cesc Fabregas.

Wenger said: ''I feel we had decent first half and created chances to be in front. We had chances in the first half to kill the game and we could not do it.

''But what happened in the second half is difficult to say. We dropped our level of cohesion, our passing and fluency went. We created barely anything.

''We lost the game down to a good second half from PSV and we could have been punished more on the counter-attack.

''We looked a little bit out of rhythm in the second half.''

The Arsenal manager added: ''The way we conceded the goal was disappointing. I felt that mistakes were made much before the goal.''

Wenger was also less than impressed with the perceived negative tactics of the home side.

He said: ''They started the game to play for a 0-0. After they scored the goal, the defended even more but somebody needs to play.''

Wenger maintains that all is not lost heading into the return leg at Emirates Stadium in a fortnight.

''From tonight I feel we are in a tricky situation because we have to score two without conceding,'' he said.

''But from the game I have seen tonight, we have enough confidence and belief that we can achieve that.''

There will be little time for the Gunners to digest the significance of this result as they must now prepare for Sunday's Carling Cup final against Chelsea at the Millennium Stadium.

''They are two different teams and this will have no influence on the Carling Cup,'' said Wenger.

''We are disappointed because we did not have the game we wanted tonight.''