ARSENAL have all but sealed their spot in the quarter-finals as they became the first team in history to score seven away from home in a Champions League knockout game.
On his return to his homeland, Jurrien Timber headed Arsenal into an early after the Dutch defender turned in Declan Rice’s cross to the back-post on the 18th minute.
Three minutes later, Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly combined to double the Gunners lead as the former met the latter’s low cross to fire in from close range.
Mikel Arteta’s side would further extend their lead, following a lengthy VAR check, after Mikel Merino stroked the ball past the goalkeeper in the midst of a six-yard melee.
PSV would pull themselves back into the game as Thomas Partey forceful challenge on Luuk de Jong handed Noa Lang the chance to convert from the spot, which he did with aplomb into the top corner.
The North London club came out with the same impetus they started with, as quick-fire double from Martin Ødegaard and Leandro Trossard restored their comfort in score straight after the interval.
Ødegaard would grab his second and Arsenal’ sixth before substitute Riccardo Calafiori – who came on the 35th minute for the booked-and-nearly sent off Myles Lewis-Skelly – compounded the Dutch side’s with a galloping run and finish to round off a unrelenting night.
- Full-time result: PSV 1 Arsenal 7
- PSV XI: Benitez; Ledezma, Flamingo, Malacia; Saibari, Schouten, Til; Perisic, De Jong, Lang.
- Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Nwaneri, Merino, Trossard.
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Just had a missed call on my phone, it could be Mikel saying I can play up front next week.
Even a man down, they’ll still progress with ease.
The big question next Wednesday night is who will they be playing? It’ll be a belter either way!
Goodnight.
Match report
Mikel Arteta’s goal-crazy Arsenal can smell the quarter finals with a stunning result that eclipsed one of the greatest European nights in their history.
Arsene Wenger’s Invincibles battered Inter Milan 5-1 at the San Siro back in November 2003 – Thierry Henry running rings around Javier Zanetti and co.
Twenty two years on and a woeful PSV outfit could have done with Zanetti – even at his current age of 51 – at the back as the Gunners went two better with a seven-goal Euro humbling.
In fact, they were the first team EVER to score seven in an away knockout tie.
More from Mikel
He was also asked about the teenagers tonight, adding: “It’s a massive result away from home in a competition that we love, that we miss for so many years. Today is a really special night for us.”
“To be doing what they are doing at 17 and 18 years old, shows incredible maturity. They are doing that because of how the other players support them and make them better.
“They have a lot of courage. Myles makes an assist, that’s the team that I want to see, they take initiative and they want to make things happen.”
Mikel reacts
Mikel Arteta told Prime Sport: “I’m just so happy for the boys because in the last two games, we haven’t scored a goal and we know the noise around that.
“Momentum can shift and this is a team [PSV] that is very used to winning. They have the capacity to generate chances in a lot of moments.
“You don’t want to put yourself in the position where they score a second one and it is game on.
“This is the beauty of football. Focus on what you are doing and do your best. Anything can happen.”
Poor Peter
Peter Bosz was already under pressure heading into this game, before leading them to their joint-record defeat in HISTORY.
I’ll admit, he’s got to be very lucky to lead the team at the Emirates next week as they were absolutely mince.
Looking embarrassed and burst, he told Prime Sport: “Terrible night for us. No chances, maybe two moments in the game?
“We hit the bar and then maybe the second yellow card.
“Football-wise we had no chance. They played well and we had no chance.
“Absolutely poor from our side and not how we play normally and Arsenal did very well.
“We had a plan, analysed them and thought we could hurt them somewhere. But if you look at how we defended, you can’t be successful if you play this way.”
More from Martin
The Arsenal skipper was also pressed on the chance he could be heading back to Real Madrid with Arsenal in the next round.
He told Prime: “Of course, it would be special to go back there.
“Whoever we get we will be ready.
“We have to finish our job at home first and then see who we get.”
Lead from the front
Martin Odegaard told Amazon Prime Sport: “After last few games we needed this performance. It was brilliant from start to end.
“Really good going forward, creating chances, scoring goals. Unfortunately conceded one goal but top performance.
“Every player in my position want to influence the game with goals and assists and it’s something I haven’t been good enough at this season but two goals and one assist tonight is a good step.”
Big games to come
A result that will give the Gunners huge confidence moving forward.
Some big games on the horizon in the Premier League especially – then a trip to Madrid to come too!
Dec reacts
Declan Rice spoke to Prime Sport after the game and said: “We were fluid, enthusiastic, the drive and hunger in the knock out phase of the Champions League.
“But we’ve been playing like this all season. 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.
“We had the opportunity to score more second half especially.
“Nothing is done yet, so we’ll see”
Match stats
PSV had more possession in the game, they have that to celebrate at least….
Arsenal had 15 shots on goal to PSV’s 12 – but eight on target to the home side’s two.
Seven goals from eight shots on target doesn’t reflect too great on the keeper, admittedly.
Record-breaking
No surprise, tonight was Arsenal’s biggest result away from home in the Champions League.
And they’re the first team in history to score 7+ goals away from home in a Champions League knockout stage game.
Champions League results
Four results tonight with goals for all eight sides.
- Club Brugge 1-3 Aston Villa
- Dortmund 1-1 Lille
- PSV 1-7 Arsenal
- Real Madrid 2-1 Atletico Madrid
Quarters awaits
Arsenal can already begin preparations for Madrid as the job is done and dusted in the first leg.
No striker? No problems this time as they put SEVEN beyond a dire PSV side.
The only blemish was the one they conceded from the spot.
Otherwise, it’s a near-perfect night with six different scorers – including two full backs – and it probably could’ve been more.
FULL TIME
An extraordinary night in the Netherlands.
PSV 1-7 Arsenal
90 – PSV 1-7 Arsenal
All those goals and substitutions and we’re only getting two minutes added on.
Even the referee feels for the home side.
89 – PSV 1-7 Arsenal
Malacia must’ve thought his embarrassing results were behind him when leaving Man Utd for PSV on loan.
Alas not. He’s now been booked for a late challenge on Ben White.
Pure frustration.
88 – PSV 1-7 Arsenal
Prime Sport saying this matches the worst ever defeat in PSV’s history in all competitions.
Shocker.
85 – GOAL DETAIL – PSV 1-7 Arsenal
Seven goals and counting for Arsenal who have time for more.
Speaking of time, Odegaard is given plenty of it 22 yards from goal when he stands in possession.
He prods a pass with the outside of his foot into the box on the right where CALAFIORI of all people makes the darting run down the right wing and he finishes like a centre forward, with his weaker right foot across the keeper and into the bottom corner.
Excellent finish. Seven goals away from home.
85 – GOAL!! PSV 1-7 ARSENAL
It IS seven and a left-back has scored.
But it’s RICCARDO CALAFIORI!
83 – PSV 1-6 Arsenal
Zinchenko determined to get on the scoresheet!
Rice wins a corner and takes it himself from the left which is deep and Zinchenko is all alone at an angle.
His controlled shot is blocked behind and PSV deal with that resulting corner.
81 – PSV 1-6 Arsenal
It’s nearly seven.
Tierney plays in Zinchenko down the left and his shot across goal is watched all the way by Benitez who saves this one.
78 – PSV 1-6 Arsenal
Another double change for the Arsenal.
- OFF: Merino & Timber
- ON: White and Tierney
74 – GOAL DETAIL – PSV 1-6 Arsenal
How on earth have this Dutch side made the round-of-16 of this competition?
The room given to Martin Odegaard 30 yards from goal is outrageous.
He’s allowed to drive and drive and get to the edge of the box before striking well but straight down the keeper’s throat.
He dives out the way of it, sticks a hand out and diverts it into the bottom corner.
The home fans are piling out the exits and rightly so.
Terrific from Arsenal.
74 – GOAL! PSV 1-6 ARSENAL
Ruthless from the Gunners against an absolute shambles of a side.
MARTIN ODEGAARD makes it SIX!
71 – PSV 1-5 Arsenal
Double change for Mikel Arteta:
- OFF: Partey and Nwaneri
- ON: Sterling & Zinchenko
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
