An energized Arsenal dominated PSV Eindhoven with a 7-1 victory away in the first leg of their Champions League round-of-16 match on Tuesday. In a quick 13-minute burst during the first half, Arsenal netted three goals before decisively scoring four more in the second half.
First-Half Blitz: Arsenal Early Dominance
Jurrien Timber scored the first goal in the 18th minute, then teenager Ethan Nwaneri scored next, and Mikel Merino netted the third in the 31st minute.
The champions from the Netherlands narrowed the gap with a penalty from Noa Lang, making the halftime score 3-1. However, two goals within the first three minutes of the second half further showcased Arsenal’s superiority, with captain Martin Odegaard and Leandro Trossard finding the net.
Second-Half Surge: Odegaard, Trossard Extend Lead
Odegaard scored his second goal in the 73rd minute, and then substitute Riccardo Calafiori added the seventh goal just five minutes before the final whistle to finish the rout at the Philips Stadion.
Arsenal achieved their largest away victory in European club tournaments and placed themselves in a nearly unchallengeable position to progress to the quarter-finals, where they will face either Atletico Madrid or Real Madrid.
PSV Early Miss: Saibari Hits the Crossbar
They took control right from the beginning, although the home team nearly went ahead in the 16th minute when a cross from Ivan Perisic was deflected by goalkeeper David Raya into the way of Ismael Saibari, who hit the crossbar from a short distance.
Just two minutes later, a skillful turn and left-footed cross from Arsenal player Declan Rice allowed Timber to leap over Lang at the far post and score with a header, starting the flood of goals.
Left-Flank Threat: Lewis-Skelly Assists Nwaneri
The Gunners’ offensive play on the left led to the second goal, where Myles Lewis-Skelly sent a square pass to Nwaneri, who then struck it in from close range.
Lewis-Skelly was lucky not to receive a second yellow card following a reckless tackle that triggered intense protests from the PSV players and coaching staff.
Merino Moment: Persistence Pays Off
Merino made his impact following Timber’s determination as the Dutch defender attempted to navigate into the PSV penalty area.
The home team fought hard to contain him, but when the ball broke loose, defender Ryan Flamingo failed to clear it effectively, allowing Merino to seize the opportunity to place the ball into the far corner.
Penalty Conceded: Partey’s Costly Mistake
Arsenal conceded a penalty just three minutes before halftime when Thomas Partey’s extended arm caught PSV captain Luuk de Jong around the neck, leading to Lang successfully converting the penalty kick.
However, any aspirations for a comeback were dashed following the halftime interval when PSV’s goalkeeper, Walter Benitez, inadvertently handed Odegaard a goal by deflecting Nwaneri’s cross directly to the Norwegian. Just a minute later, a clever lob from Trossard over Benitez extended the score to 5-1.
Odegaard Turns Provider: Calafiori Seals Rout
Odegaard struck the sixth goal and then delivered a superb assist for Calafiori, who finished off a brilliant run on a night when everything fell into place for the away team.
Arsenal was unable to find the back of the net in their previous two Premier League matches, but Rice, who delivered an impressive performance in midfield, stated that the way they achieved their win came as no shock.
Rice Reflects: “We’ve Been Playing Well”
“We feel we’ve been playing well as a team. Sometimes we score five, sometimes two, sometimes we don’t score, but tonight we did well.”
This marked the first occasion that PSV allowed seven goals at their home ground, and it was also the first instance of any Dutch team conceding seven in a European match.
They outperformed us in every aspect, remarked PSV defender Olivier Boscagli. We allowed them to dictate the game. That was precisely their goal. We were always chasing after them.
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