Arsenal cruised into the Champions League quarter-finals with an emphatic 9-3 aggregate victory over PSV Eindhoven, sealing the deal with a 2-2 draw at the Emirates on Wednesday.
Having already dismantled the Dutch champions 7-1 in the first leg, the Gunners approached the return fixture with confidence, knowing their place in the last eight was all but secured.
Mikel Arteta made seven changes from Arsenal’s recent 1-1 draw with Manchester United in the Premier League, but his side wasted no time asserting their dominance. Just six minutes into the match, Oleksandr Zinchenko opened the scoring in style.
After receiving a pass from Raheem Sterling, the Ukrainian glided along the edge of the box before curling a superb left-footed strike past PSV goalkeeper Walter Benitez.
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However, the visitors, eager to restore some pride after their heavy first-leg defeat, found a quick response. Former Tottenham winger Ivan Perisic silenced the home crowd in the 18th minute with a thunderous strike that left David Raya with no chance.
Moments later, the Arsenal goalkeeper was called into action again, making a crucial fingertip save to deny the lively Couhaib Driouech.
Despite PSV’s resilience, Arsenal reclaimed the lead in the 37th minute. Sterling, who has struggled for game time under Arteta, showed his quality down the right flank, delivering a perfectly weighted cross for Declan Rice to head home. The England midfielder’s goal ensured Arsenal went into halftime in control.
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PSV refused to back down, though, and they continued to test Arsenal’s defense after the break. Raya produced another fine save 10 minutes into the second half, stretching full length to deny Isaac Babadi’s goal-bound effort.
With 20 minutes left on the clock, PSV found their equalizer. Moroccan youth international Driouech, making his first Champions League start, showed composure beyond his years by lifting the ball over the onrushing Raya, securing a 2-2 draw on the night.
While the result was inconsequential given Arsenal’s commanding aggregate lead, it marked an important step forward for Arteta’s squad.
The Gunners have never won the Champions League and haven’t lifted a European trophy since their 1994 Cup Winners’ Cup triumph. Now, they face a monumental test against 15-time champions Real Madrid in the quarter-finals.
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