Arsenal earned a 7-1 win against PSV in the Champions League round of 16 first leg in the Netherlands this evening.
Arsenal started the game brightly, had an early call for a penalty, and Declan Rice put the ball in the back of the net after 12 minutes, but it was ruled out for offside.
Six minutes later, Jurrien Timber gave the Gunners a deserved lead, which they extended after just three minutes through Ethan Nwaneri.
The floodgates had opened, and PSV were stunned, but they tried to get back into the game and had a shout for a penalty that was not given, only for Arsenal to extend their lead through Mikel Merino.
Myles Lewis-Skelly was lucky to survive without a second booking after a bad challenge, and he was replaced in the first half by Riccardo Calafiori.
PSV struck one back from the spot through Noa Lang, but Arsenal almost replied immediately through Declan Rice on a dominant night for the Gunners.
Two minutes after the break, Arsenal found the back of the net for the fourth time through Martin Odegaard.
A minute later, it was five goals for the Gunners as Leandro Trossard scored, with PSV struggling to contain the Londoners.
PSV showed some fight and forced David Raya into one great save, but Arsenal scored the next goal through Odegaard to make it 6-1.
They were not done yet, as Calafiori added another late goal to complete a seven-star performance from the Gunners.
Wonderful all round performance. 10 for everyone. MA used different setup in this match where the wingers stayed wide while Rice and Odegaard pushed up the field thereby giving more support to Merino.
Now we need A Madrid to beat Real Madrid next week ( not that I’m them for granted )
Nor should you Dan but I completely agree with you
Dan, not sure I’d prefer A Madrid as they are masters of defending and we struggle to score against teams who sit back. Then again can we score more goals than Real if we played them though.
@Bryan
RealTalk 👍🏾
That’s my thought
A Madrid at least it be cagey and tight
Real Madrid just think you need to be clinical
Really don’t want to be negative, but it’s one game where we managed to score a heap of goals. Before this game we couldn’t find the back of the net.
I just hope we continue this way, then we can outscore Real.
We have an even lesser chance of outscoring Real Madrid. Atleti is the better draw, even though it’ll be a struggle. I don’t know why anyone would rather go up against Mbappe, Rodrygo, Vinny Jr, Bellingham…. They’re stacked!
If we forget about trying to win UCL this year (something every sensible fan should have no issue admitting).
You’d realise quickly that facing R Madrid will be a more interesting watch.
Ace display by the Ladz. Big ups to Arteta on his tactical subs. This is how we’re meant to play, serious pressing, kept coming at em wanting to score more and sound defensively. If this is us from here on out, we might be able to get “something” out of this season yet. Just sayin…👏🏾
Love the optimism, and of course why can’t we get something out of the season as you say.
@Bryan
I’m sure we can, if this is our approach to games here on out. We just have to keep our heads and stay grounded, concentrating on our football.
I’m so pleased for the team for putting in such a confidence building performance – 7-1 away – how good is that? As an aside, I’d like to mention how much the game tonight gave our substandard manager a chance to smile, knowing how much pressure he has faced
Nothing is easy or can be taken for granted- but tonight was a blast
@Sue P
Remember Sue, “pressure creates diamonds”…
They’re certainly a girl’s best friend NYG
We all needed a lift and one came along tonight. I can go to bed without gnashing my teeth for a change
@Sue P
You are so right about us needing a lift. And it came at the right time. Big thanks to Arteta and the Ladz for that Ace Display…👏🏾
SueP,
Do you mean you don’t have to put them in a glass at the side of your bed.
Just kidding, honest!. 🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂😉👍
with all that gnashing, I might need them though
Were we not under pressure at in.the Carabo and FA Cup and at Forest and at home to West Ham lol ?
LOL!
Congratulations to the boys for the stellar performance. I was optimistic we would win, but not by such a margin. The return fixture will be light.
Great win. Anything can happen from here on in in a knockout encounter.
Dominant victory on the road! We March on to the next as old Trafford awaits. COYG!!!
Arteta Out
All joking apart Dan, you took my leg pulling well and we both want to see The Arsenal do well – there were some records broken tonight my friend and I never saw this result happening in a month of Sundays.
If manure lose their europe game, then I can see a great result at Old Trafford.
I think every player who entered the field of play deserves ten out of ten and the same goes for MA and his backroom staff.
What a result and what an evenings entertainment.
Exactly we want the same things
Least we got a QF to look forward to
These are the nights you want to be part of
👍👍
Congs the boys. It’s possible when determination visits the team all night. If all 11 always aspire to score and not just leave the task to a few!
Arsenal have a funny pattern, smashing city, with hopes high against a Newcastle.
Now smashing PSV, which in my wildest dream can see that score line.
Hopefully that won’t be the case against Man U.
So! Who is right and who is wrong. We have been shite in the last few games because we have no striker? We have been poor in the last few games because we have played it all wrong? The Arteta way? Look PSV were awful but so were we against WH and Forest up front. Why did we play SOOOOOOO differently tonight? We got players into the box, we were running from deep, we put good crosses in, we passed the ball forward early. Not a hint of Artetaball. I will say it again, the football we have played in the league this year has been insipid. WHY? Were the shackles of Arteta took off? Or was PSV that poor? Whatever the reason, where has that football been all season and I mean the nut and bolts of it. No football by numbers, no looking for corners, no first thought to pass back and positve. We won’t play PSV every week but we would never win anything playing the negative boring football we have played so far. Well done!!!!!!! Tonight
I don’t think anybody is right or wrong. Sometimes circumstances get in the way
Sue, the last two games, we didn’t score because we didn’t have a striker. Wrong!!!!! We didn’t score because of how we played.
First – congrats to the lads and Mikel, nobody beats PSV 7-1 at home (since 1958), I too did not see that coming, that has made my day.
We want Arsenal to win – nothing personal against anyone. If Arteta is that man -then , so be it. The only visible difference today was the tactics and that won the game with the same players. Maybe Arteta’s goal must be the UCL, so, maybe he is not focused on the EPL and cups, i really don’t know, just saying after watching the match
Congrats to Arsenal sure. However, I disagree with this analysis.
We have played with a similar setup in many games this season but have not got the same results. If you look at our underlying metrics many are also similar to those of certain other games this season. We have won some of those but not with such a margin.
We able to play effectively in transition during the second half as PSV despite being down by several goals were still trying to chase the game. In addition, PSV were defensively suspect.
No less than WH or Forest. Without going back to the previous games, where you would have to be blind, ifcyou didn’t see the approach was completely different. Night and day.
Do you have an explanation Reggie? Was it because the opposition were poor on the night or because we had a different game plan? By circumstances, I mean that last night everyone clicked. Hopefully, that will continue but I’m not expecting upwards of 3 goals plus per game or for our upcoming opponents to be so generous
We approached the game differently for starters and played quicker.
Yes we did, which was very welcome. I just wondered what brought about the change. Whether caution in the league to not lose rather hamstrung them, but with the CL realistically the only trophy still available, the players looked up for it and energised.
They did but why has it got to desperation stage to do it
Reggie,
One of the changes was that we flooded their box more than previous games. A result of our lack of Saka, Martinelli, and even dare I say it Havertz.
Without them, it looks like Arteta decided to throw a bit of caution to the wind finally, and commit more players in to the box. And the result was 7 lovely goals. 😉👍
Was asking a friend the same things Reggie. All I saw today were forward passes, runs, lots of width stretching the psv defence! Completely opposite of what I see in the league.
All in all great win and play from the boys and maybe a nice warm up if we carry this to the Red devils
Correct Kenya but obviously David didn’t see ANY difference. I wonder if there had been some soul searching from the manager and realised he has held this team back this year, playing Artetaball.
It was a performance from the Arsenal of old, quick passing forward and decisive shots, great stuff, well done.
Arsenal wonder my the 2 academy players went to Man U.The young striker on the bench must wonder under what circumstances is he ever going to get game time .7-1 up and STILL he doesn’t get a chance.Please explain what is the point of him being on the bench?
My suggestion is that giving White much needed minutes was more important
However, I agree that giving the youngsters a chance is desirable.
I didn’t notice White playing as a striker
Agree, where was the young accademy striker, thrown on. Merino is our seemingly only option at the moment. SO WHY NOT GIVE A YOUNG KID A GO? This was the game to give them 30 minutes. BUT NO!!!!
To be honest it is embarrassing for him.He needs the club asap
I mentioned to say leave the club asap
Not after a 7-1 win lol
In my view the criticism of Sterling as sub is unnecessary and unhelpful. There are still many games to go and Sterling may still be needed for the rest of the season. He needs minutes.
We have won a game with a fantastic result. Really disappointing to see that people are still coming up with negativity despite a great performance.
Good performance.
I just hope the goal scoring performance won’t deceive Arteta to think that we don’t need a striker. Am speaking from experience with the way the coach always got carried away.
We might see him given minutes next week in the return leg. How good is he though, not watched under 21 s lately
I wasn’t trying to be funny or rude
Certainly Sterling didn’t need to come on but the likes of White need the minutes
That is the last person I want to see coming on Suep, how he keeps getting minutes is buffling. Today he came on and his first contribution was to run into a psv player and loose the ball. Left me cursing and swearing! He has completely lost it.
Why is Sterling getting minutes over an Accademy striker is beyond me and lacks future vision.
Maybe the academy striker is not very good ?
Well we don’t know do we, because he plays Sterling. Who isn’t very good.
Manager sees players every day in training
He gives Skelley and Nwaneri a chance so no reason to think he wouldn’t if someone was good enough
They got their chance through injury, so should another. I can not accept any debate that Sterling should get minutes over an accademy player on the bench. Especially when the game was won and Sterling has been useless at best. Surely there is a time to look to the future, try things and see what transpires. Nothing to lose and only gain.
Everyone… we won 7-1 !!!
I cant believe the negativity on this platform even tonight !
People blaming the manager when we lose and when we win!
Why arent we buying a striker – then saying why are we not giving the youngsters a chance
Unbelievable !
I will repeat – WE WON 7-1 !
It’s just the one of the usual anti-Arteta mob, neil. Be thankful that most disappeared as soon as the goals started going in.
Great result and a very entertaining open game. Nice to see so much of the squad used. Either Madrid will do! To (almost) be in the last 8 is excellent. Thanks Mikel and all the boys. So happy for Martin as he was not having a good game and to bag two will do wonders for him.
One leg in the quarterfinals now. Miracles do happen.
We might just get Madrid and win them, hopefully with Saka back.
I never saw this wonderful performance coming.
We only struggle against teams that defend in the low block and hit us with the counter.
Arteta needs to find a way of playing against such low block teams successfully.
Think Saka recovery is harder then you think
Should just say peeps when we next complain that Arsenal don’t get decisions their way and it’s a conspiracy…..Skelly lucky not to get a second yellow ?
2 words…euro ref who realised 1st yellow wasnt and made up for his error.
EPL refs?? Skelly would have got the 2nd yellow 5 mins after
Also, Mark Clattenburg said that as the attacker wouldn’t have got the ball, then a Yellow card wasn’t needed.
That’s not the rule
So you know better than Mark Clattenburg then 😂😂😂
Just confirmed my point
When it goes against us it’s a conspiracy theory / agenda
When it goes in our favour it’s …..well reff / ex reff knows more then us ?
Confirmed your point 😂😂.
If anything Michael Oliver confirmed on Saturday the point that he does have an agenda against The Arsenal, when he had to be told by VAR, to go to the monitor to look at that disgusting challenge by the Millwall keeper on Mateta. Remember that he sent off MLS for a trip, but without VAR he would’ve allowed the Millwall keeper to stay on the pitch.
That’s terrible if true
MLS could have received a second yellow card. However, it was not mandatory that a card needed to be issued.
In many discussions people have made such claims as “the referee had no choice” which in many cases is simply not true.
Referees are allowed discretion and are not expected to robotically follow rules.
So no conspiracy this time ?
Not sure what you are on about. Have I ever suggested or implied that there was a conspiracy?
Not literally asking you
Just some Gooners ( including on here ) have suggested Arsenal get unfavourably treated
What’s that got to do with last night?
‘Should just say peeps when we next complain that Arsenal don’t get decisions their way and it’s a conspiracy…..Skelly lucky not to get a second yellow ?’
That’s what you have chose to challenge
in our society there is a saying that goes like the dog began barking after the hyena had gone away. this 7 goal thriller will not however scare liverpool the champions-elect. it may nonetheless frighten sunday’s opponents man utd.
It will help our confidence which is the main thing
this African inspired 2nd kit is really lucky. i can’t remember this season arsenal losing with this kit. tonight they wore it with a changed white shorts. prove me again this sunday gooners!
As fans we are thrilled with the performance, relieved to go into the quarters and get a shot at one of the Madrid Clubs, but beyond today’s highs there is still a need to take things in perspective. The gap between EPL and Dutch League is a wide one. The same problems still exist. A striker as a dangerous fullback would make Arsenal serious contenders. Highlights for me today were Skelly providing an assist to Nwaneri and Califiori having his best game yet in an Arsenal shirt. We have a good one here and need to look after him.
Should say three good ones in Skelly, Nwaneri and Califiori.
I don’t turn my nose up at any wins. We needed to see the ball go into the net and we did. Hopefully we can gain some confidence from this and build on the rest of the year.
What a performance from the boys! Absolutely battered PSV and apart from the silly penalty we gave them nothing, who would have predicted a score like that with the way we’ve been playing lately? I was thinking 0-0 or 1-0 PSV, I got it slightly wrong! 😀
Low block defending is our kryptonite.
We have no remedy for that yet.
I believe they have to pass the ball faster and also shoot at sight and work on their finishing to be more clinical.
The fact we won 7-1 doesn’t mean we have a good team
So we are now complacent and think we have a good team ?
Psv played badly and to be candid we took advantage of it but we still need a lethal striker
Am not convinced of this team without strikers .
I pray and hope Saliba or Jesus don’t sustain injury then we are exposed and fans will turn on arteta
Didn’t give these team much of a chance! Quite an extraordinally result, and am enthrilled of how we played , at this stage no game is easy, winning 7-1 away from home boosts confidence and we can afford to rotate next week.
Surprised by the score just like I was surprised with how we beat Man City. I tend not to be carried away by single results nowadays because from experience nothing usually comes out of it.
Will not be surprised if we go on to lose convincingly at old trashford.
Great result against a very poor side which would struggle to survive in the EPL.I have to say I can now understand why Arteta bought Merino who’s work off the ball creates spaces for others and who’s composure on the ball is a joy to see.He is becoming a very effective ,versatile addition to our squad.On the downside,I think it’s fairly evident that MLS is decidedly limited at LB where his defensive issues are being targeted by opponents.He was fortunate to escape yet another red card last night, but clearly, his future lies as a central midfielder.Can you just imagine him being risked against RM,who I expect to be our next opponents in the CL, and their terrific wingers?Hopefully Arteta will now see the light and henceforth play the young lad in his natural position as a back up to our central midfield next season.
Wow, what a scoreline. I never expected that, as I was very apprehensive about this game, as I watched the second half of the PSV Vs Juventus game and saw what a threat PSV are.
Hopefully in the 2nd leg we can see one of our young strikers get a bit of a run out.
That’s the time to do it HD – in the home tie
Especially since we are through to the quarter finals SueP.
Are we?
Well I can’t see PSV beating us by 7 clear goals. Can you Reggie ?
No but we couldn’t see us scoring 7 either.
Before the game in an interview, Timber said that the players need to change the narrative. Well I think we can safely say that it is certainly mission accomplished.
Thankfully PSV came out to play which helped us. As we seem to struggle against low blocks. But last night the shackles we’re finally off, and what a performance the team produced.
Every player, bar the obvious one played their part in a very impressive result. Now hopefully at some point in the return leg, Arteta will give a couple more of the academy players some minutes and see if their able to perform at the levels required.
7-1, who needs a striker. 😂🤣😉👍