Arsenal secured a stunning 7-1 victory over PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League round of 16, overcoming recent struggles with injury-depleted attackers. This win marked Arsenal’s highest goal tally under manager Mikel Arteta and made them the first team to score seven goals away in knockout history. Jurrien Timber opened the scoring, and six players contributed to the goals, showcasing improved attacking intent lacking in recent matches. While Arteta acknowledged the achievement, he emphasized the need for consistency as they approach crucial Premier League matches against Manchester United and Chelsea. This result can help revitalize their season despite ongoing challenges.
Arsenal made their way to Eindhoven having struggled to find the back of the net in three of their last four matches, compounded by injuries to four key attackers. This circumstance made any forecasts for a high-scoring contest against PSV appear optimistic, yet as manager Mikel Arteta remarked during his post-match press conference, “That’s the beauty of football.”
The 7-1 victory in the opening leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 marked the first instance of Arsenal scoring that many goals in a single match under Arteta’s management. Furthermore, they became the first team in the competition’s history to net seven goals in a knockout game away from home, making it an unexpectedly historic evening.
Prior to the match, defender Jurrien Timber emphasized the need to “change the narrative” of recent performances, so it was only fitting that he netted the opener and that Arsenal’s seven goals were distributed among six players. These collective efforts were far from fortunate; they were meticulously crafted, and the intent behind each move was clear from the outset.
During this injury crisis, where midfielder Mikel Merino had been utilized as a makeshift striker against West Ham United at home and Nottingham Forest away, Arsenal became relatively easier to defend against. Although they enjoyed possession, their offensive threat diminished, allowing opponents to sit back and await counterattacking opportunities. This was evidenced in their encounter with West Ham.
In contrast, the opening ten minutes at the Philips Stadion on Tuesday showcased two moments where Arsenal created more difficulties for their rivals despite the absence of a natural striker. The first was a dribble towards the box by academy graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly, followed by an incisive run by Declan Rice, which led to a disallowed goal due to offside.
The standard was set, and that duo continued to make impactful runs. Rice’s movement into the box created the opening for Timber to score with a beautiful left-footed cross, and soon after, Lewis-Skelly found himself in a similar position, delivering a low cross for Ethan Nwaneri just three minutes later. Such runs had been notably absent from Arsenal’s recent games but are essential for building on this dominant performance against PSV.
Ethan Nwaneri impressed again for Arsenal (John Thys/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s third goal indicated that PSV’s defense was not the toughest they would encounter — the Dutch side had conceded 29 goals in 2025 prior to the match. Nevertheless, Arsenal demonstrated the intent to kill the game shortly after the second half commenced by seeking two more goals within three minutes.
Despite captain Martin Odegaard scoring twice and Riccardo Calafiori contributing the final touch, Arteta did not place significant weight on a result that renders the return leg in London next Wednesday a mere formality.
“It’s something that hasn’t been done, so great to be part of that,” he stated. “However, as a team, we want to accomplish many other objectives that are far more important than this.”
“To reach new milestones, we must elevate our performance to a significantly different level. Yet, this team has achieved numerous feats that haven’t been accomplished in many years or in the club’s history, which is meaningful. But that’s not our ultimate aim.”
Arteta’s comments reflected the lessons learned from last season, when Arsenal shattered multiple Premier League records yet failed to secure the title. Coincidentally, Tuesday’s match coincided precisely with the anniversary of Arsenal becoming the first team in English league history to win three consecutive away games with a margin of five goals or more (against West Ham, Burnley, and Sheffield United).
While these and other milestones speak to Arsenal’s quality, they did not translate into silverware, which likely explains Arteta’s cautious assessment of the PSV encounter following such an unforeseen scoreline.
The performance and result should inject momentum into his players, but it’s crucial they capitalize on it. The runs made by Lewis-Skelly, Rice, and Trossard into the left channel must make a return against Manchester United and Chelsea in their upcoming two Premier League fixtures and future opponents as well. The “flow” and “looseness” that Arteta noted in Odegaard’s play last night needs to remain consistent.
Odegaard’s player dashboard vs PSV
When asked about Nwaneri’s attacking prowess and his proximity to the record held by Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen for goals scored for an English team before turning 18, Arteta responded: “You see every time he scores a goal, what his intention is. If it happens, it happens, and that’s wonderful. I’m genuinely impressed with his attitude and performance tonight. It’s about being consistent and replicating that three days later in another significant stadium.”
Old Trafford is the next major venue for Arsenal as they visit on Sunday, and whether it’s Nwaneri, Odegaard, Rice, or another player, they must ensure that the threat displayed in Eindhoven is not merely a one-off. The squad has faced challenges with the injuries to attackers Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz (all hamstring issues), and Gabriel Jesus (anterior cruciate ligament).
Arteta understands that their seven goals in the Netherlands won’t resolve everything, but it could provide a sturdy foundation.
Calafiori finished his goal — Arsenal’s seventh — like an experienced striker (Maurice van Steen/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)
Thus far, this has defined much of their 2024-25 European campaign.
Before the first leg against PSV, Arteta stated: “In the past year, we have performed quite differently at home and away, notably in Europe. We’ve achieved far greater consistency, scored a significant number of goals, and conceded very few; we allowed three goals and had the lowest expected goals against (0.73 per game) in the league phase, which is commendable. This foundation is pivotal, so we have the resources available, and it’s something the team has accomplished before, now it’s about maintaining that.”
In addition to the statistics Arteta referenced, Arsenal was leading in matches for the highest percentage of the time (57 percent) in the eight-match league phase. They have continued to reinforce that foundation with a six-goal advantage for the second leg and a result that signifies their first five-game winning streak in the Champions League since the 2005-06 season, when they last reached the final.
It’s important to note, however, that those five wins occurred in the group stage, rather than the knockout rounds. That year, Arsenal scored only four goals during the knockout stages, drawing 0-0 in at least one leg of each of their three ties.
Scoring more in this knockout phase doesn’t automatically guarantee Arsenal a spot in the final in Munich on May 31, especially since they find themselves on the same side of the draw as Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
What it can accomplish, however, is revitalizing a season that undoubtedly needed a boost.
(Top photo: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)