Sport can be a great leveller. A team which was struggling to score for the past couple of weeks, suddenly rediscovered its scoring prowess, that too away from home. An Arsenal redemption.
Arsenal struggling to keep pace with Liverpool in the English Premier League visited the Philips Stadium in Eindhoven, the home of their Round of 16 Champions League opponent PSV for the 1st Leg last night. The stadium packed with PSV Fans had a nervous Arsenal side making way to the centre. However, once the match began, the tables turned dramatically.
PSV looked so much at ease that they let Arsenal make consistent inroads into their box. The defence from PSV was at best average and the struggling Gunners manouevered this lapse to their advantage. Timber scored in the 18th minute for Arsenal which opened the floodgates. Nwaneri made it 2-0 3 minutes later and Merino made it 3-0 in the 31st minute. Arsenal were all over PSV and this 13 minute blitz virtually sealed the match and the tie as well.
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The Gunners were not done yet and though N Lang scored for PSV from the penalty spot, Arsenal scored twice just after half-time to silence the Philips Stadium completely. Captain Odegaard and Trossard scored in the 47th and 48th minute to make it 5-1. Odegaard again scored in the 73rd minute and helped Calafiori to add the 7th goal in the 85th minute. Distraught PSV fans had looks of dejection and disappointment as the home team received a terrible rout.
PSV’s defence and organisation were in shambles. They were late to react and could hardly challenge Arsenal once the Gunners reached the PSV box. It was an extremely poor display from PSV and deserved to be knocked out of the Champions League. With a massive 7-1 advantage going into the second leg, Arsenal are virtually through to the next round.
The resounding performance from Arsenal was probably their best ever in Europe away from home. A great shot in the arm for the Gunners.
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