Arsenal have officially booked their place in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals after securing a dominant 9-3 aggregate victory over PSV Eindhoven. Despite being held to a 2-2 draw in the second leg on Wednesday night, the Gunners comfortably advanced to the next stage of the competition.
The North London side had already put one foot in the quarter-finals with a resounding 7-1 win in the first leg, allowing manager Mikel Arteta the flexibility to rotate his squad for the return fixture. With a commanding lead, Arteta opted to rest several key players in preparation for their upcoming quarter-final showdown against either Atletico Madrid or Real Madrid next month.
Arsenal got off to a flying start in the second leg, breaking the deadlock just six minutes into the game. Raheem Sterling, currently on loan from Chelsea, showcased his playmaking abilities by cutting inside before setting up Oleksandr Zinchenko. The Ukrainian left-back made no mistake, curling a stunning left-footed strike into the far corner to give Arsenal an early lead.
PSV Eindhoven, however, responded swiftly. Their experienced winger, Ivan Perisic, capitalized on a rare lapse in Arsenal’s defense, slotting the ball past David Raya to restore parity in the second leg. The goal gave the Dutch side a glimmer of hope, but Arsenal remained in control of the overall tie.
Determined to maintain their dominance, Arsenal restored their lead before halftime. Declan Rice demonstrated his aerial prowess, rising highest to power home a header from another pinpoint cross by Sterling, making it 2-1 for the Gunners on the night.
Sterling nearly got on the scoresheet himself, but his delicate chip attempt was brilliantly saved by PSV goalkeeper Walter Benitez, denying the winger a well-deserved goal.
The second half was a more subdued affair, with Arsenal managing the game and maintaining possession. However, PSV managed to snatch an equalizer late in the match. A mistake from Jorginho in midfield allowed Couhaib Driouech to pounce, lifting a stunning lofted shot over Raya to make it 2-2.
Despite the draw, Arsenal comfortably secured their spot in the quarter-finals, where they will now shift their focus to a high-stakes clash in Madrid against Spanish opposition. With their attacking prowess and squad depth, the Gunners will be looking to go even further in the competition as they chase European glory.