Arsenal delivered a record-breaking performance in the Champions League last 16 on March 4, 2025, thrashing PSV Eindhoven 7-1 in the first leg at the Philips Stadion.
The Gunners became the first team to score seven away goals in a knockout stage match, setting the tone for a likely quarter-final berth.
The onslaught began early with Jurrien Timber’s opener, quickly followed by goals from Mikel Merino and 17-year-old sensation Ethan Nwaneri.
Nwaneri’s goal not only made him the third-youngest scorer in the competition’s knockout history but also placed him alongside English stars Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden as one of the few players to start a knockout game before turning 18.
Captain Martin Ødegaard led by example, netting twice, while Leandro
Trossard and Riccardo Calafiori also added their names to the scoresheet.
PSV’s only response came from a penalty converted by Noa Lang, but the Dutch side was overwhelmed by Arsenal’s relentless attack.
The Gunners faced a defensive scare when 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly was booked early and narrowly avoided a second yellow card.
Manager Mikel Arteta acted swiftly, substituting him in the 34th minute to maintain control of the match.
This commanding victory puts Arsenal in a dominant position ahead of the second leg, with a potential quarter-final clash against either Real Madrid or Atlético Madrid on the horizon.
The performance in Eindhoven was not just a statement of intent but a warning to their rivals, as Arsenal aim for European glory.
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s teenage sensation, Ethan Nwaneri, etched his name in Champions League history on Wednesday night, becoming the third-youngest player to score in a knockout stage match as the Gunners dismantled PSV Eindhoven 7-1 in their last-16 encounter.
The 17-year-old academy graduate rifled home a first-time finish from Myles Lewis-Skelly’s cross to net Arsenal’s second goal of the night, marking his eighth strike in what has been a breakthrough season under Mikel Arteta.
With key players sidelined due to injuries, Nwaneri has stepped up in Arsenal’s attack, delivering yet another crucial goal when it mattered most.
At 17 years and 348 days, Nwaneri now sits behind only Bojan Krkic (17 years, 217 days) and Jude Bellingham (17 years, 289 days) as the youngest players to score in a Champions League knockout match.
Source: Punch
