Arsenal became the first side to net seven goals away from home in a Champions League knockout tie as PSV were put to the sword in ruthless fashion at the Philips Stadion.
Much of the pre-game chat had focused on the Gunners’ struggles in front of goal but they buried those concerns racing to a three-goal advantage before adding four more in the second half after the hosts had briefly pegged them back.
Jurrien Timber, Ethan Nwaneri, Mikel Merino, Leandro Trossard, Riccardo Calafiori and a brace from player of the match Martin Odegaard did the damage while Noah Lang netted a penalty for PSV. After lots of sausage in recent weeks, this was caviar football and a night to savour.
Here’s what the managers, players, pundits and stattos made of the action.
Mikel Arteta on a statement win…
I really enjoyed the match. Thank you to the players for the performance that they put in. It was a big night for us against a really good side. The way they went through in the last round against Juventus was really impressive. The manner that we’ve done it, the way we played, the goals that we scored. Thank you because it was a special night. It’s obviously given us a lot of joy and confidence and belief. In football, it’s not what we did three days ago or today, it’s going to be what we do tomorrow. We go to Old Trafford, how we behave, how we play and are we able to win a game. That’s it, enjoy tonight because it was a very impressive performance and an unbelievable score. We deserve that and I’ll take it and keep improving as a team.
Source: Post-game press conference
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Peter Bosz on a sobering night for PSV…
We had maybe two moments in the game – one with our first chance when we hit the bar and the second yellow [not given to Lewis-Skelly] were moments to come back in the game. Football wise we had no chance. We were not in our best form. Arsenal played fantastic, we had no chance tonight. We had a plan we analysed them we thought that we could hurt them somewhere but if you look at how we defended, really poor. You can not be successful if you play this way.
Source: Amazon Prime
PSV 1-7 Arsenal
In scoring seven goals, Arsenal became the first team in UEFA Champions League history to score 7+ goals away from home in a knockout stage match.
Look back at the game & analyse the stats: theanalyst.com/2025/03/psv-…
— Opta Analyst (@optaanalyst.optajoe.com) March 4, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Odegaard on Arsenal’s relentless attacking…
That’s the mindset of the team. We always want more, and we know how important every goal is. Today we got a really good result, and obviously we’re happy with that.
Source: Uefa.com
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PSV midfielder Guus Til on a bad night…
We’re not in form at the moment, even in the [Eredivisie]. It was always going to be a very difficult match, especially with the level Arsenal are playing at. If you are 2-0 down after [21] minutes, it is very difficult. In the end, I thought we didn’t even fight any more.
Source: Uefa.com
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Arsenal are the first side in Champions League history to score 7 goals away from home in the knockout stages. Some crackers tonight from @optajoe.com
#PSVARS
— Orbinho (@orbinho.bsky.social) March 4, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Arteta on whether he was worried when PSV netted a penalty..
Yeah, because momentum can shift, you know. And it’s a team that is very used to winning. They have a lot of capacity to generate chances in various situations. So if you come out and they score the second one, it’s game on and you don’t want to put yourself in that position.
Source: Amazon Prime
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Declan Rice on Arsenal’s performance…
We were fluid. We had enthusiasm, the drive and the hunger.
Source: Amazon Prime
Only two players have scored more goals in all competitions for Arsenal this season than Ethan Nwaneri.
15 Havertz 9 Saka
8 Nwaneri
— Orbinho (@orbinho.bsky.social) March 4, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Uefa’s Technical Observer Group on awarding Odegaard the player of the match award…
He hit two goals, displayed an impressive passing element to his game and pressed well, covering a lot of distance in the process.”
Source: Uefa.com
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Odegaard on his key stats this season…
Every player in my position wants to influence the game with goals and assists and it’s something I haven’t been good enough at this season but two goals and one assist tonight is a good step.
Source: Amazon Prime
Tonight was the 2nd time #Arsenal have had 6 different goalscorers in an away game – both coming in Europe.
November 1993 v Standard Liège (CWC):
Adams Campbell (2) Smith McGoldrick Merson
Selley
March 2025 v PSV (UCL):
Timber Nwaneri Merino Ødegaard (2) Trossard
Calafiori
— Harvey Downes (@harveydownes92.bsky.social) March 4, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Arteta on Odegaard’s performance…
I think a lot of players made him flow today. You could tell today that he was loose, he was enjoying it. He was with that energy and that flow, and then he becomes a player that makes a difference for the team. I’m really happy that he was in a big night like that, the captain has set up and put a performance like he did tonight.
Source: Post-game press conference
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Arteta on Arsenal finding solutions in the absence of a traditional striker…
You really have to play with a lot of initiative and when we talk about initiative, getting players in the positions that players are in, a full-back putting an assist for Myles [Lewis-Skelly], Jurrien [Timber] scoring a goal, Calafiori making a run and scoring with the right foot, that’s the team that we want to see and they’re a phenomenal team.
Source: Arsenal.com
Arsenal have scored seven goals in a European game for the first time since October 2007 against Slavia Praha and for the first time in any competition since scoring seven against Newcastle in December 2012.
#PSVARS
— Orbinho (@orbinho.bsky.social) March 4, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Arteta on the decision to substitute Myles Lewis-Skelly after nearly getting a red card…
I haven’t seen the second action but you are 2-0 up away from home and I didn’t want to risk it. He is very young so we have to protect him.
Source: Amazon Prime
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Theo Walcott on Arsenal having a week to prepare…
Arsenal were clinical. They didn’t give PSV a second to breathe. The message relayed to them was ‘get this done tonight.’ They are so focused and that little break has done them the world of good.
Source: Amazon Prime
Martin Ødegaard had a hand in three goals in a single game for the first time as an #Arsenal player (2 goals, 1 assist), with tonight his 182nd appearance for the club.
— Harvey Downes (@harveydownes92.bsky.social) March 4, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Wayne Rooney on the win allowing Arteta to play a full side at Old Trafford on Sunday…
Mikel Arteta now has the opportunity to go for it on Sunday because he can now rest players in midweek. He won’t say it but this tie is over. So Arsenal can go full throttle on Sunday.
Source: Amazon Prime
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Alan Shearer on the magnitude of the result…
You don’t get many night like this in Champions League football.
Source: Amazon Prime
Joe Cole on Nwaneri’s promise…
Nwaneri is going to be an absolute genius. He’s the most exciting young footballer in England and maybe even in Europe. What he’s doing is incredible and out of this difficult period they’ve come out with him, when Saka and Martinelli get back, I’d move him inside and play a double 10 with Odegaard, i think that’s where he’ll end up. With the pace either side of them, they might have a say in the Champions League.
Source: TNT Sports
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Thierry Henry on whether Arsenal can beat one of the Madrid sides in the next round…
Yes, I do believe that.
Source: CBS Sports Golazo
