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Al-Wadi – Agencies
Arsenal scored three goals in just 13 minutes during the first half, then added four more after the break to crush PSV Eindhoven 7-1 in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 on Tuesday.
Jurrien Timber opened the scoring in the 18th minute, followed by young Ethan Nwaneri doubling the lead, before Mikel Merino netted the third goal in the 31st minute.
Dutch champions PSV pulled one back through a penalty converted by Noa Lang, making it 3-1 at halftime.
However, Arsenal quickly extended their dominance with two goals in the first three minutes of the second half, as captain Martin Ødegaard and Leandro Trossard both found the net.
Ødegaard scored his second goal in the 73rd minute, before substitute Riccardo Calafiori netted the seventh goal five minutes from the end, sealing a resounding victory for the visitors.
Arsenal achieved their biggest away win in a European club competition, putting themselves in an unassailable position to advance to the quarter-finals, where they will face either Atlético Madrid or Real Madrid.
The English side controlled the game from the start at Philips Stadium, despite the home team having an early opportunity in the 16th minute when Ivan Perišić delivered a cross that was parried by goalkeeper David Raya, falling to Ismael Saibari, whose close-range shot struck the crossbar.
Just two minutes later, Declan Rice delivered a smart dribble and a left-footed cross, allowing Timber to rise above Lang at the far post and head in from close range, sparking a flood of goals.
Arsenal’s left-wing attack played a crucial role in the second goal as well, with Myles Lewis-Skelly providing a brilliant through ball for Nwaneri, who ran onto it and slotted it into the net from close range.
Lewis-Skelly was fortunate to avoid a second yellow card after a reckless challenge, which sparked furious protests from PSV players and the home bench.
Merino’s contribution came after relentless determination from Timber, who surged into PSV’s penalty area.
The hosts struggled to contain Timber, and when his ball found its way into the box, defender Rayan Flamingo failed to clear it properly, allowing Merino to capitalize and slot it into the far corner of the net.
A penalty was awarded against Arsenal three minutes before halftime when Thomas Partey extended his arm around PSV captain Luuk de Jong’s neck. Lang converted the spot-kick, giving PSV their only goal of the match.
Any hopes of a PSV comeback were immediately crushed after the break when goalkeeper Walter Benítez gifted Ødegaard a goal by misdirecting Nwaneri’s cross straight to the Arsenal captain.
Just 60 seconds later, Trossard executed a brilliant chip over Benítez to make it 5-1.
Ødegaard then added Arsenal’s sixth goal with around 17 minutes remaining before setting up Calafiori, who finished off a swift counterattack on a night where everything went perfectly for Arsenal.
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