Arsenal made Champions League history after beating PSV 7-1 in their clash on Tuesday night.
DANNY MURPHY looks at what went right for the Gunners and the implications for their European campaign.
ARTETA’S ATTITUDE
It felt like Mikel Arteta told his players to get after PSV. It was high-tempo, high-risk from the start. There was a real urgency in Arsenal’s press, as if they needed to get goals quickly.
The approach worked because every player was dialled in. Martin Odegaard triggered the press, as usual, and everyone followed, notably the front three of Leandro Trossard, Mikel Merino and Ethan Nwaneri.
Having last weekend off because of the FA Cup did them good. It is draining to play every few days having to win.
Any minor injury niggles disappeared. They all looked hungry with a point to prove. Declan Rice was great, enjoying getting higher up the pitch.
Arsenal strolled to victory in their meeting with PSV in the Champions League on Tuesday night
Mikel Arteta’s high-tempo and high-risk strategy paid dividends in their trip to Holland
FEARLESS NWANERI
I was at Liverpool when a 17-year-old Michael Owen burst through with this incredible self-belief that no defender could handle him.
I’m getting the same vibe with Nwaneri, who doesn’t look scared of anybody. The bigger the occasion, the better he is.
The teenager moves effortlessly with the ball, has a great touch and changes direction to find space in the tightest of areas.
Many young players have ability but to also have the mentality to play with freedom marks you out as special. Arsenal are also helped by their centre backs.
Gabriel and William Saliba are so good in individual duels that team-mates can push up, knowing their defenders can deal with any turnovers.
Ethan Nwaneri, 17, continues to impress after being integrated into Arsenal’s first-team
The youngster, along with Myles Lewis-Skelly, has been a standout performer this season
PERFECT FODDER
If the Gunners could name ideal opponents after failing to break down West Ham and Nottingham Forest, it would have been PSV, who haven’t won a league game since January. The Dutch side tried to throw numbers forward but that left spaces to exploit.
The Gunners must have loved it after facing teams who put everyone behind the ball.
Arsenal were ruthless and they didn’t rest on their laurels even after scoring four and five.
LAST-EIGHT UNDERDOGS
It’s easy to assume Arsenal are better-equipped for Europe than the Premier League but it’s not that simple. Whichever Madrid team they face in the quarters, Real or Atletico, will present a far bigger challenge than PSV.
In some ways, Atletico are more dangerous because of their style; strategic and pragmatic. Real don’t normally sit off — they’ve got the best front players in the world in Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior.
While that would suit Arsenal, the sheer quality of the Galacticos means Arteta can’t repeat the PSV game plan and expect the same outcome.
A full-strength Arsenal would find it hard against either team. It will be even harder without a striker, as Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are out injured.
Merino will improve as a false nine, but even though he is adequate as a physical presence, that won’t cut it in the latter stages of the competition.
It could be another season of near-misses for Arsenal but they are in a good place
KEEP WITH THE PLAN
It could be another season of near-misses for Arsenal but they are in a good place. Too many injuries and suspensions will cost them. They couldn’t have anticipated losing Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Havertz and Jesus at the same time.
However, they are close to success, and deviating from the Arteta project would be a mistake. The striker issue will be addressed in the summer because the squad is otherwise stronger than ever. The future is bright but, despite their goal bonanza on Tuesday night, I don’t see a trophy come May.
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