Arsenal crush PSV 7-1 to all but seal Champions League quarter-final spot

Arsenal delivered a dominant performance in the Netherlands, crushing PSV Eindhoven to all but secure their place in the Champions League quarter-finals ahead of next week’s second leg.

The Gunners stormed to a 7-1 victory, scoring three times in the first half and four in the second, setting up a likely showdown with either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid in the next round.

PSV showed early promise when Ismael Saibari struck the crossbar, but Arsenal took control after Jurrien Timber opened the scoring in the 18th minute. Just three minutes later, Ethan Nwaneri doubled the lead with a powerful finish after Myles Lewis-Skelly’s clever cutback.

Lewis-Skelly, who had already been booked, was lucky to avoid a second yellow after a foul on Richard Ledezma, prompting Mikel Arteta to replace him with Riccardo Calafiori before halftime. Arsenal extended their lead soon after, with Mikel Merino capitalising on a defensive error to make it 3-0, though Noa Lang pulled one back from the penalty spot after Thomas Partey fouled Luuk de Jong.

Arsenal maintained their relentless attacking play after the break. Martin Ødegaard quickly restored the three-goal cushion, reacting first to Walter Benitez’s parry. Moments later, Calafiori and Leandro Trossard combined, with the Belgian delicately chipping over Benitez to make it 5-1.

Ødegaard then scored his second of the night with a brilliant solo effort before Calafiori sealed Arsenal’s biggest-ever away win in the Champions League with a late strike.

With the new tournament format allowing teams to plan their knockout path, Arsenal now turn their focus to the likely quarter-final clash against either 15-time champions Real Madrid or city rivals Atletico, who are battling in their own last-16 tie after Real secured a 2-1 first-leg win on Tuesday.