- Arsenal’s 7-1 victory over PSV set a new Champions League knockout record
- Ethan Nwaneri became the third-youngest scorer in knockout history
- Ødegaard scored twice as Arsenal extended their winning streak to five games
Arsenal had gone without a goal in their previous two matches before Tuesday’s Champions League clash against PSV Eindhoven. But in a dramatic turnaround, the Gunners found the back of the net seven times in a thrilling 7-1 victory, all but securing their place in the quarterfinals for a second consecutive year.
This stunning performance also made history, as it marked the first time a team had scored seven goals away from home in the knockout stages of the Champions League, adding an extra layer of achievement to their remarkable win.
“It was a beautiful night,” said manager Mikel Arteta after the game. “To score the goals we did and in the manner that we won the game – very, very impressive.”
The match could have gone a different direction early on, however. Just 15 minutes in, PSV’s Ismael Saibari had a golden opportunity to give his side the lead but saw his shot hit the crossbar. Ivan Perišić then missed the rebound, and Arsenal was fortunate to escape unscathed.
The momentum shifted quickly, though. Shortly after, Arsenal took the lead when Jurrien Timber headed in a cross from Declan Rice at the back post.
Teenagers Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri combined for Arsenal’s second goal, with Nwaneri – who turns 18 in two weeks – becoming the third-youngest player in Champions League knockout history to score, joining Bojan Krkić and Jude Bellingham.
PSV’s woeful defending allowed Mikel Merino to score Arsenal’s third after 31 minutes, capitalizing on a botched clearance inside the box. Noa Lang’s penalty just before halftime offered PSV a faint hope, but it was short-lived.
The second half brought little respite for the Dutch side. Martin Ødegaard made it 4-1 early after a cross from Nwaneri was parried into his path, and Leandro Trossard quickly added a fifth. Just 48 minutes into the match, it was the fastest five goals ever scored by an away team in Champions League history.
Ødegaard netted his second goal midway through the second half and then provided a brilliant assist for Riccardo Calafiori, who sealed the rout in the 85th minute.
Arsenal has now won five consecutive Champions League matches, a streak that began after their 1-0 defeat to Inter Milan in November. With their hopes of winning the Premier League fading, the Champions League now stands as their best chance for silverware this season.
“It’s really difficult because PSV are a really good team. The way they beat Juventus (3-1 two weeks ago) was really impressive,” said Arteta. “So how we’ve done it and when we’ve done it, I think we have to give the boys a lot of credit.”
