In a breathtaking display of football, Arsenal rattled in three goals within just 13 minutes during the first half and added four more after the break, achieving a remarkable 7-1 win at PSV Eindhoven in the first leg of their last-16 tie on Tuesday. This victory marks the largest win by a road team in a Champions League knockout match and stands as Arsenal's biggest away victory in the history of the tournament.
The scoring opened in the 18th minute when Jurrien Timber found the back of the net, igniting a flurry of goals from the Gunners. Just minutes later, teenager Ethan Nwaneri added a second goal, followed by Mikel Merino who made it three in the 31st minute. Despite a penalty from Noa Lang that allowed the Dutch champions to pull one back for a 3-1 halftime score, Arsenal demonstrated their offensive prowess.
Arsenal’s dominance continued into the second half. In a stunning display of attacking football, goals from captain Martin Ødegaard and Leandro Trossard within the first three minutes of the half further solidified their lead. Ødegaard, who was instrumental throughout the match, scored his second goal in the 73rd minute, and substitute Riccardo Calafiori capped off the night with a goal five minutes from time, making history as the first team to score seven goals in an away Champions League knockout match.
Arsenal started the match strong, though PSV had a chance to take the lead in the 16th minute when a close-range effort from Ismael Saibari hit the crossbar. Just two minutes later, a clever left-footed cross from midfielder Declan Rice set up Timber’s header, signaling the start of Arsenal's goal spree. Nwaneri's second goal showcased the teamwork of Lewis-Skelly, who provided a perfect assist.
Despite a contentious moment when Lewis-Skelly was fortunate to avoid a second yellow card for a clumsy challenge, the Gunners continued to build momentum. Merino capitalized on a defensive error from PSV to score the third goal effortlessly.
PSV was awarded a penalty three minutes before halftime when Thomas Partey was penalized for handling the ball. Lang converted the penalty, providing a glimmer of hope for the hosts. However, this hope quickly faded after the break as Arsenal’s Ødegaard benefited from a mistake by PSV goalkeeper Walter Benítez, leading to an easy goal. Trossard followed up with a clever dink over Benítez, bringing the score to 5-1.
Ødegaard's sixth goal and Calafiori's final strike showcased Arsenal's complete dominance, marking a night where everything clicked for the visitors. Despite failing to score in their previous two Premier League matches, Rice expressed confidence in the team's performance: "We feel we've been playing well as a team. Sometimes we score five, sometimes two, sometimes we don't score, but tonight we did well."
This match also marked a historic low for PSV, being the first time they conceded seven goals at home and a record for any Dutch club in a European tie. PSV defender Olivier Boscagli acknowledged Arsenal's superiority: "They were simply better than us in everything. We let them play, and that's what they wanted to do. We were constantly running after them."
As Arsenal looks ahead to the second leg, this historic victory not only boosts their confidence but also sets a formidable challenge for PSV in their quest to overturn a significant deficit.
