PSV 1-7 Arsenal
(Lang 43′ pen | Timber 18′, Nwaneri 21′, Merino 31′, Odegaard 47′, 73′, Trossard 48′, Calafiori 85′)
PHILIPS STADION — In a stunning display of attacking football, Arsenal ran riot in a 7-1 victory over PSV Eindhoven, effectively securing their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Young sensation Ethan Nwaneri etched his name in the history books, becoming the third youngest scorer in the knockout stages, while also providing an assist for captain Martin Odegaard.
The Gunners’ triumph marked PSV’s worst home defeat in European competition. Jurrien Timber opened the scoring with a well-placed header, giving Arsenal an early advantage. Just three minutes later, Nwaneri doubled the lead with a clinical finish, followed by Mikel Merino’s goal that put Arsenal firmly in control at 3-0 within just 31 minutes.
Despite being down, PSV managed to claw one back through a penalty converted by Noa Lang just before half-time, offering a glimmer of hope. However, Arsenal quickly extinguished any thoughts of a comeback with a rapid-fire double from Odegaard and Leandro Trossard shortly after the break. Odegaard’s second goal, a stunning long-range effort, further solidified the Gunners’ dominance, while he also assisted Riccardo Calafiori to cap off a memorable evening for the visitors.
In the opening moments, it was actually PSV who looked more threatening, with Ismael Saibari hitting the crossbar after a clever cross from former Spurs winger Ivan Perisic. But Arsenal swiftly turned the tide with a brilliant pass from Trossard that found Declan Rice, whose cross was met by Timber’s header.
After Nwaneri’s superb first-time finish from Myles Lewis-Skelly’s cross, Arsenal seemed unstoppable. Lewis-Skelly’s involvement was notable, although he faced a brief scare when he was booked for a foul after a promising start, almost adding to his troubles with a late challenge.
Player of the Match: Leandro Trossard
- Delivered three outstanding passes that directly contributed to goals, including scoring one himself.
Arsenal’s European journey has been marred by self-sabotage in recent years, with the team losing seven of their last eight two-legged ties at this stage of the Champions League. The match threatened to follow that pattern when Thomas Partey was penalized for a foul on Luuk de Jong in the box, allowing Lang to score from the spot, narrowing the gap to 3-1 just before half-time.
Had De Jong converted a header in first-half stoppage time, the tone of the half-time team talk could have shifted dramatically. However, Arteta’s words seemed to resonate, as Arsenal emerged from the break revitalized, quickly extending their lead to 5-1 within four minutes, first through Odegaard and then Trossard, who once again showcased his playmaking prowess.
As if to underline their dominance, Odegaard’s powerful drive found the back of the net with just 16 minutes remaining, and Calafiori’s late goal added the final touch to an extraordinary victory for Arsenal, sending them home with a comfortable cushion for the return leg next week.
