Arsenal silenced doubts over their attacking prowess with a dominant 7-1 victory over PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League Round of 16 first leg. Jurrien Timber, Ethan Nwaneri, and Mikel Merino fired Mikel Arteta’s side into a commanding lead before halftime, while Noa Lang’s penalty proved only a minor consolation for a lackluster PSV.
In the second half, Martin Odegaard struck twice, with Leandro Trossard and Riccardo Calafiori adding further gloss to an emphatic performance. The Gunners became the first team to score seven goals away from home in a Champions League knockout tie, setting up a quarter-final clash with the winner of the Madrid derby.
Arsenal started brightly as Odegaard had a penalty claim waved away, and Declan Rice saw a goal ruled out for offside before Timber’s opener. Nwaneri combined well with Myles Lewis-Skelly to double the lead, while makeshift striker Merino added the third. Despite PSV’s brief hope through Lang’s penalty, Arsenal overwhelmed their Dutch opposition after the break.
With Arteta making two changes from the previous match against Nottingham Forest, Myles Lewis-Skelly replaced Riccardo Calafiori at left-back, and Thomas Partey came in for Jorginho. The victory reignites Arsenal’s European ambitions, showcasing their defensive solidity and attacking depth with six different scorers on the night.
Source: Swifteradio.com
