Arsenal delivered a resounding statement with a 7-1 thrashing of PSV Eindhoven, putting their recent struggles in front of goal firmly behind them. After firing blanks in three of their previous four matches, doubts had crept in over their ability to maintain their season’s ambitions. This emphatic performance, however, silenced those concerns in style.
From the first whistle, Arsenal took control. When Leandro Trossard found the net early in the second half to make it 5-1, all three of Mikel Arteta’s makeshift forwards had scored, highlighting the team’s attacking dominance. PSV, left humiliated on their own turf, could do little to contain the onslaught.
Ethan Nwaneri stole headlines with a stunning goal, making him the third-youngest scorer in a Champions League knockout tie. The 17-year-old’s intelligence on the ball, composure, and explosive acceleration suggested maturity well beyond his years. However, the night truly belonged to captain Martin Ødegaard. His second goal, Arsenal’s sixth, even drew applause from sections of the home crowd. At times, it seemed as though he was orchestrating the game with his own personal football.
The historic nature of the victory was clear, surpassing Arsenal’s previous biggest away wins in the competition 5-1 against Inter in 2003 and 4-0 against PSV in 2002. The result brought back a sense of excitement ahead of a likely quarter-final against one of the Madrid clubs, with the potential return of Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka adding further optimism.
For PSV, the defeat was the latest setback in a rapidly unraveling season. Once flying high at the Eredivisie winter break, they had since won just one in seven league matches and had also crashed out of the Dutch Cup. Eindhoven’s carnival atmosphere before kick-off quickly faded as their team fell apart.
Despite a bright opening, PSV had their chances to take the lead, with Ismael Saibari hitting the woodwork after a mistake from David Raya. Arsenal, though, soon took control. Declan Rice created the breakthrough with a pinpoint cross for Jurriën Timber to power home. The second goal was a product of the Hale End academy, as Myles Lewis-Skelly pulled the ball back for Nwaneri, who unleashed a thunderous first-time finish.
A moment of controversy arrived when Lewis-Skelly, already booked, committed a late challenge on Richard Ledezma. PSV players called for a second yellow, but the referee refrained, and Arteta soon substituted the youngster.
By then, Arsenal had already moved 3-0 ahead, capitalizing on a defensive mix-up that allowed Mikel Merino to slot home. PSV briefly pulled one back through Noa Lang’s penalty after Thomas Partey’s foul on Luuk de Jong, but any hopes of a comeback were short-lived.
Arsenal swiftly reasserted their dominance after the break. Nwaneri outpaced Tyrell Malacia before setting up Odegaard for the fourth, while Riccardo Calafiori’s assist for Trossard’s delicate finish made it five. The visitors continued to exploit a fragile PSV defense, with Ødegaard and Calafiori adding further goals to complete the demolition.
This performance was a reminder of Arsenal’s quality, as they dismantled what was in front of them with ruthless efficiency.
