Samuel Akpan with agency report
Arsenal produced a stunning display of attacking football to thrash PSV Eindhoven 7-1 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.
Mikel Arteta’s side took control of the match from the outset, with Jurrien Timber and Ethan Nwaneri scoring three minutes apart in the first half to leave the Dutch side reeling.
The Gunners continued to dominate the match, with Mikel Merino adding to their lead on the half-hour mark. PSV Eindhoven managed to pull one back through Noa Lang’s penalty in first-half stoppage time, but Arsenal’s momentum was unstoppable.
In the second half, Martin Odegaard and Leandro Trossard scored within three minutes of each other to build Arsenal’s advantage further.
Odegaard added a sixth goal for the Gunners, before Riccardo Calafiori netted a late seventh to complete the rout.
This victory marks a historic milestone for Arsenal, who have become the first side in Champions League history to score seven goals away from home in the knockout stages.
The Gunners have also won five successive Champions League games in a single edition of the tournament for the first time since the 2005-06 season.
With this dominant display, Arsenal have effectively sealed their place in the Champions League quarter-finals, leaving PSV Eindhoven with a monumental task to overturn the deficit in the second leg.
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