Arsenal demolished PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands to take a commanding lead into the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.
The Gunners scored three goals in the first half and four goals in the second to all but confirm their place in the quarter-finals of the competition, with a trip to Madrid on the horizon.
Ismael Saibari hit the crossbar early on for the home side but Arsenal took control after Jurrien Timber scored Arsenal’s opener in the 18th minute.
Ethan Nwaneri doubled Arsenal’s lead just three minutes later when Myles Lewis-Skelly cleverly cut the ball back for the 17-year-old to powerfully score past Walter Benitez.
Lewis-Skelly, who had already been booked, was fortunate to stay on the pitch shortly after when he fouled Ledezma, and Mikel Arteta replaced him with Riccardo Calafiori with 10 minutes of the first half left.
Mikel Merino added a third following a defensive mix-up before Noa Lang pulled one back from the penalty spot for PSV after Thomas Partey fouled Luuk De Jong.
Arsenal continued to attack with ease as soon as the second half started and Martin Odegaard made sure there was not going to be a PSV comeback when he scored from close range after Benitez pushed a cross out into the area.
Substitute Calafiori then combined well with Leandro Trossard who chipped the ball over Benitez from close range to score Arsenal’s fifth just one minute later.
Odegaard scored his second with an excellent individual effort before Calafiori grabbed a goal late on as Arsenal registered their record away win in the Champions League.
In the new format, Arsenal can plot their route through the competition, and despite having next week’s second leg to come, they look set to take on either 15-time champions Real Madrid, or their city rivals Atletico.
Real won the first leg of their last-16 tie 2-1 on Tuesday with the second leg to follow at Atletico.
Source | BBC Sports
