Arsenal made Champions League history on Tuesday night with a stunning 7-1 demolition of PSV Eindhoven in their last-16 first leg.
Mikel Arteta’s side became the first team ever to score seven goals away from home in a Champions League knockout match.
The Gunners put their recent goalscoring woes firmly behind them with a ruthless display at the Philips Stadion.
Goals from Jurrien Timber, Ethan Nwaneri and Mikel Merino gave Arsenal a commanding first-half lead, with Noa Lang’s penalty briefly giving PSV hope.
Arsenal ran riot against PSV with seven goals
Martin Odegaard scored twice after the break, with Leandro Trossard and Riccardo Calafiori completing the rout.
Arsenal started brightly with Timber breaking the deadlock after 18 minutes, powering home a header at the far post that any striker would be proud of.
Just three minutes later, 17-year-old Nwaneri doubled the lead, becoming the third-youngest goalscorer in Champions League knockout history.
The goal was made in Arsenal’s Hale End academy, with Lewis-Skelly providing the assist.
Merino made it three after 30 minutes following some chaotic PSV defending, though VAR took a lengthy look before confirming the goal.
PSV were handed a lifeline just before half-time when Thomas Partey fouled Luuk de Jong, with Lang converting the resulting penalty.
Any hopes of a PSV comeback were extinguished just three minutes into the second half when Odegaard pounced on a rebound after Nwaneri’s cross was spilled by goalkeeper Benítez.
Less than two minutes later, Trossard made it 5-1 with a delightful chip after combining with substitute Calafiori down the left flank.
Boos rang out around the stadium as PSV fans began leaving in droves.
Odegaard added his second and Arsenal’s sixth in the 73rd minute with a powerful drive that Benítez fumbled into his own net.
Calafiori completed the scoring with a fine finish in the 85th minute after being picked out by Odegaard’s threaded pass.
Nwaneri was at the heart of Arsenal’s attacking brilliance throughout the match, delivering a performance that belied his tender age.
Arsenal made history with their victory, becoming the first side in the Champions League to score seven in an away knockout tie
Reuters
The 17-year-old became the third-youngest scorer in Champions League knockout history, behind only Bojan and Jude Bellingham.
His tireless work created Odegaard’s first goal, as he stood up Manchester United loanee Malacia before delivering a dangerous cross.
Nwaneri nearly added a spectacular second goal with a mazy run through the middle, ghosting past several defenders before forcing a save from Benítez.
The teenager’s display showed why Arsenal have such high hopes for him, following in the footsteps of Bukayo Saka as another incredible talent from Hale End.
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Ethan Nwaneri scored Arsenal’s second on a special night for the 17-year-old
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Arsenal’s record-breaking victory was their biggest away win in the Champions League.
The Gunners now have one foot firmly in the quarter-finals ahead of the return leg at the Emirates next Wednesday.
Barring an unprecedented collapse, Arsenal can start planning for a quarter-final against either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid.It marks potential progress from last season when they were eliminated at the quarter-final stage by Bayern Munich.
The emphatic result will surely boost confidence as Arteta’s men look to go deeper in the competition this year.