Mikel Arteta hailed Arsenal’s players for a “special night” after they dismantled PSV Eindhoven 7-1, securing their biggest away victory in Champions League history. The result all but guarantees Arsenal’s place in the quarter-finals for the second consecutive season and provides a timely confidence boost ahead of their Premier League clash against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Captain Martin Odegaard played a starring role, netting twice, while substitute Riccardo Calafiori completed the emphatic win with Arsenal’s seventh goal. The victory surpassed the club’s previous best Champions League away win, a 5-1 triumph over Inter Milan at San Siro in 2003.
Arteta expressed his delight with the performance, emphasizing the importance of maintaining momentum. “It was a special night,” he said. “It’s given us a lot of joy, confidence, and belief. But in football, it’s not about what we did three days ago or today it’s about what we do tomorrow. We now go to Old Trafford, and how we behave, how we play, and whether we can win that game is what really matters. Tonight, we enjoy this because it was a very impressive performance and an unbelievable scoreline. We deserve that, but we need to keep improving as a team.”
The Arsenal manager acknowledged the significance of breaking a record but insisted that greater ambitions lie ahead. “It’s something that hasn’t been done before, so it’s great to be part of that. But as a team, we want to achieve many other things that are far more important. The happiest I am is because we are in a very strong position to reach the next round, which is where we want to be.”
Ethan Nwaneri made history by becoming the third-youngest goalscorer in the Champions League knockout stages, netting Arsenal’s second goal of the night. The young talent is now just one goal away from equaling the record held by Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen for most goals by a 17-year-old in the competition before his 18th birthday on March 21.
Arteta praised the teenager’s attitude and natural instinct in front of goal. “I don’t think he needs any pushing. Every time he gets a sight of goal, you see what the intention is. If it comes, it comes, and that’s great. I’m really impressed with the way he behaved and the way he played tonight. Now, it’s about consistency doing it again three days later in another big stadium.”
The resounding victory comes at a crucial time for Arsenal, who had struggled in front of goal in recent weeks. After failing to score in three of their previous four matches, the team rediscovered their attacking rhythm in spectacular fashion. With momentum on their side, they now turn their focus to Old Trafford, where they will look to carry this form into the Premier League title race.
