Magnificent seven for Arsenal as Gunners thrash PSV in Champions League - 5 talking points
PSV EINDHOVEN 1-7 ARSENAL: Mikel Arteta's side ran riot in the Netherlands and took a huge step towards reaching the Champions League quarter-finals for the second successive season
by Nathan Ridley · The MirrorArsenal have one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals after dismantling PSV Eindhoven 7-1 away from home, putting their goalscoring woes well and truly behind them.
A thrilling first half saw PSV rattle the crossbar a matter of minutes before Jurrien Timber broke the deadlock. The Gunners' lead was quickly doubled when Ethan Nwaneri struck and Mikel Merino soon make it three - but not without controversy, as VAR took a long look.
Between Arsenal's second and third goals, Myles Lewis-Skelly was fortunate not to be sent off for a second yellow card. PSV did get a reprieve from referee Jesus Gil just before half-time, as he awarded them a penalty following a foul by Thomas Partey. It was scored by Noa Lang to give the hosts a glimmer of hope. But the game was done and dusted a mere three minutes into the second 45, as Martin Odegaard, Leandro Trossard and Riccardo Calafiori took the tie out of reach.
Here are five talking points from the Phillips Stadium.
1. Who needs a striker?
Arsenal have largely been dismissed when it comes to winning the Champions League due to not having a fit striker and their lack of depth in attack. But goals can come from anywhere, just ask Jurrien Timber.
The Dutch right-back, formerly of PSV's rivals, Ajax, gave Arsenal the lead on 18 minutes with a back-post header any No.9 would be proud of. Declan Rice did superbly for an assist after good work from Myles Lewis-Skelly - more on him shortly.
As the latest beneficiary of Arsenal's injury crisis, fellow teenager Ethan Nwaneri was named in the starting XI. That made him the second-youngest player to start a Champions League match for Arsenal after Cesc Fabregas in 2005. His finish to make it 2-0 - and overall performance - showed why Arsenal have such high hopes for him at just 17.
Nwaneri's run was picked out by Lewis-Skelly to double the Gunners' advantage. It was a goal made in Hale End and one which made Nwaneri the third-youngest goalscorer in a Champions League knockout game.
2. Lewis-Skelly goes from hero to zero
After starting so brightly, Lewis-Skelly's night was over after just 35 minutes when Mikel Arteta hooked him - for his own good. The left-back should've been sent for an earlier bath when he clipped PSV winger Richard Ledezma, having been shown a debatable yellow card two minutes prior.
Referee Jesus Gil opted not to book the teenager for a second time, much to the fury of the home fans. Arteta wasn't taking any risks, bringing Riccardo Calafiori on in his place shortly after Arsenal's night got even better.
3. VAR goes in the Gunners' favour
What's an Arsenal game these days without some sort of officiating melodrama? Some Sunday League-level defending from PSV allowed Mikel Merino to make it 3-0 with just over half an hour on the clock. But then came the inevitable VAR wait.
The officials eventually decided that although Merino had been in offside position when the ball Timber attempted to play him though, PSV's defenders - at sixes and sevens - had intentionally played the ball before he received it. Confirmation of the Spaniard's goal meant that it's now three goals in four games for the Gunners' makeshift striker.
What VAR couldn't do for Arsenal, though, was change the decision for PSV to be awarded a penalty on the brink of half-time. Thomas Partey hauled Luuk de Jong to ground by his neck at a corner for the home side and Gil pointed straight to the spot, where Noa Lang stepped up to score and make it 3-1 at the break after a thrilling first half.
4. PSV implode as Bosz feels the heat
Anyone who got stuck in the queue getting a half-time pint might've missed two goals - and the conclusion of this as a contest. Nwaneri's superb cross was tucked home by Martin Odegaard, only his third goal since November, before Leandro Trossard got in on the act after a one-two with Riccardo Calafiori.
They may've beaten Liverpool in January and knocked Juventus out in the previous round, but PSV now have just one win in seven games. Last week saw Peter Bosz's side lose twice to Go Ahead Eagles; once in a cup semi-final and then in the league, losing more ground on Eredivisie leaders Ajax.
The Dutch champions host Herenveen on Sunday and another poor result could see Bosz put under serious pressure before the return leg in north London. Odegaard making it six and Calafiori did him no favours, as the home fans flooded out.
Can Arsenal win the Champions League? Give us your prediction in the comments section.
5. One foot in the quarter-finals
Arsenal fans can surely start planning for a trip to Madrid now. The Gunners will face Real or Atletico in the quarter-finals - unless they make an almighty slip-up at the Emirates next Wednesday.
It was quarter-final stage where Arteta's men were beaten last season, as Bayern Munich knocked them out. It'll be a tall task to go one better this season but after this first leg, confidence should be sky high. Arsenal even broke a record with the win, becoming the first team in Champions League history to score 7-plus goals away from home in a knockout stage match.
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