Teenagers shine as Arsenal earns record away win in the Champions League
Published
EINDHOVEN, Netherlands (AP) — Arsenal is all but guaranteed to reach the quarterfinals of the Champions League after recording the biggest-ever win away in the knockout stage of Europe's elite tournament, beating PSV Eindhoven 7-1 on Tuesday.
The Gunners were ruthless in the first leg of their last 16 tie and romped to an emphatic win despite injuries to key forwards including Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus.
“We were fluid. We had enthusiasm, the drive and the hunger," Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice said. “But we’ve been playing like this all season. We need to keep pushing as a team with the mentality.”
After Jurrien Timber headed his team into the lead in the 18th minute, Arsenal went on a rampage.
Teenager Ethan Nwaneri doubled the lead in the 21st minute from Myles Lewis-Skelly's assist. Arsenal said it was the first time the two homegrown players had combined to score for the first team, and the first time two English teenagers had ever combined for a goal in the Champions League.
“He’s 17 years old and playing on the biggest stage in football,” Rice said about Nwaneri. "It’s crazy. We see him every day in training, and he and Myles deserve to be playing. You should see them train, the way they have no fear, the way they want to come and perform. It was brilliant tonight.”
Mikel Merino — playing up front again because of the absentees — then made it 3-0 and Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard scored twice, with Leandro Trossard and Riccardo Calafiori adding more luster to the win.
Noa Lang scored PSV's goal from the spot.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer