Amidst the jubilant atmosphere at the Emirates Stadium, we marked our return to the Champions League in spectacular fashion, defeating PSV Eindhoven. In a game that saw goals raining down on our opponents, thanks to Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, and Gabriel Jesus, we found ourselves three goals ahead within half-time. Captain Martin Odegaard made his mark with a trademark finish, aiding us in achieving a scoreline that reflected our performance, and he was aptly suited for the occasion.
After a six-year wait to rejoin the thrilling competition, we wasted little time in reestablishing ourselves, rising swiftly and building a solid lead. In just eight minutes, Saka made his way through from the right and ousted Odegaard, who had been granted ample time and space for a shot, which Walter Benitez thwarted. The England international was ready to rebound and slip it past the Argentine goalkeeper, making it his first European goal at the Emirates.
Moments later, Jesus was inches away from converting a Ben White cross into a goal, and in the 18th minute, under damp conditions, Benitez made another attempt to deny Odegaard but the Argentine goalkeeper came out mostly unscathed. However, 60 seconds later, he was again pushing the ball out of his net. Jesus displayed some hesitation in seeking Saka’s assistance in finding the goal, which allowed the Argentine goalkeeper time and space, and after some good footwork, he presented a sight of goal, a shot that was destined for the top corner but Gabriel narrowly missed the header from a favorable angle.
Due to the need for VAR intervention, spectators were offered little in the way of displays of their potential to return to the game, with only a poor Johan Bakayoko effort and an Armel Bella-Kotchap header from a corner causing any concern, but Peter Bosz saw his side’s chances of scoring dwindle.
The score sheet was finally altered in the 38th minute, following a superb pass by Gabriel that sent Trossard down the left, and his chipped cross at the far post perfectly captured Jesus. The Brazilian player showcased an excellent touch first to control the ball and then, helpless Benitez at his mercy, calmly slotting the ball into the net – a clinical finish.
In terms of action, our dominance continued, with David Raya being called into action perhaps rarely if ever, and while we couldn’t add to our tally in the final 20 minutes, Mikel Arteta’s managerial debut in the Champions League was one to remember.
In Saka, Trossard, Jesus, and Odegaard, we became only the seventh team to have four different scorers in a single Champions League debut match. Saka notched his first European competition goal in his 11th such match at the Emirates. Since the start of last season, only Kevin De Bruyne (7) has scored more goals from outside the box in all competitions for Premier League clubs than Odegaard (4).
We return to Premier League action on Sunday when we travel to North London to face Tottenham Hotspur for the first derby day of the campaign, and then attention shifts to the Carabao Cup next Wednesday when we face Brentford away in the third round.
With a 4-0 victory over PSV Eindhoven, Arsenal marks a stunning return to the Champions League.
On Wednesday, in front of a home crowd, we celebrated a fantastic 4-0 win against PSV Eindhoven, marking our return to the Champions League with style, and now you can relish the highlights!
Bukayo Saka got us off to an early lead, but it was Leandro Trossard who made it 2-0 in just 20 minutes. Gabriel Jesus added our third goal before halftime, and then Martin Odegaard sealed the deal with a goal in the 70th minute.
After putting on a Man of the Match performance in the 4-0 victory over PSV Eindhoven, Martin Odegaard was thrilled to be a significant part of the club’s big night.
Following the first-half efforts from Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, and Gabriel Jesus, they completed the scoring, giving us a resounding win – a night to remember for players, management, and supporters, as we announced our return to competition in style.
And the captain acknowledged that leading at the Emirates Stadium and playing a role in a good result is a dream come true. Martin said, “Looking back on our work from last night, I think it was a terrific start.”I think from the beginning, we showed how eager we were to come back into this competition and how inspired we were. You’ve seen it in the stadium, in the atmosphere of the fans, and on the pitch; we were ready from the start.
“I think we were genuinely excited. We were really eager to put on a big performance and coming back into this competition means a lot to our players, our fans, and the club, and I think you’ve seen that from the start.”
The atmosphere was incredible. I believe these are the kinds of days that young children who are playing outside with their pals dream about. It’s incredible because these are the kind of days you only get to dream of, and I really liked it.
While we sent our supporters home excited with a performance and result, the captain feels there’s still much more to come from our team as the season’s early weeks continue to unfold.
We have a lot of things that I think we can do better, he pointed out. I think we gave them too much space without the ball, especially in the first half. And then in the second half, we found a bit more connection, and it was better, but without the ball, we played some really good football and scored some fantastic goals.
“We’ll need to build on our successes and reflect on what we could have done better,”Now, all the games are coming thick and fast, and we have to be ready for Sunday, be fit .
With a 4-0 win and a hunger for more, Martin knows our Premier League rivals will take notice, and with the North London Derby on the horizon, the Norwegian midfielder hopes our desire to keep improving will benefit us when we return to Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
So, Arsenal supporters, prepare ready for more action-packed games in the future as we make a comeback in the Champions League and continue our Premier League campaign!
“As a Manager, Mikel Arteta Felt Emotional Ahead of His First Champions League Match, and He Acknowledged That the Theme of arsenal 4-0 Win Against PSV Eindhoven at the Emirates Stadium Was Special.”
In his role as a manager, Mikel Arteta has heard this tune several times before from players in our colors, but after guiding us back to Europe’s premier club competition, he believes tasting it again after a long absence was particularly sweet. And the result, courtesy of goals from Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus, and Martin Odegaard, which was tied to an exceptional team performance, meant it was a night that the boss will always remember.
Reflecting on the occasion after the match, he said: “I’m really happy. The music was emotional, and the atmosphere in the stadium was fantastic. To win the first game 4-0 is a good memory, and I’m really happy with the way we played.”
I have sensed it during the past 48 hours in the players’ behavior, their desired level of focus, and their game preparation. But then you have to do it against a really good team who hasn’t lost any games, and today we won because we were very good in both boxes.”
After their response, there were moments of change for our rescue, and we did that very well and we were really clinical. We were really well prepared to pick the right players, the right passes, the right spaces, and that’s the difference in the game.”
While the club had experienced a six-year absence from competing in the competition prior to tonight’s match, Mikel believes that winning this first game is essential for his players to know they are at this level.
He believes our performance in week-in, week-out Premier League action, along with the presence of experienced international professionals, means we are fully equipped to challenge the rest of the continent’s elite class this season.
When asked if it was a definite win, Mikel said: “What is more important for us is that we can perform at this level, and it’s no different from what we experience every week in the Premier League. This is the ideal preparation for us, and it demonstrates how many players are accustomed to competing in big major tournaments.
Emotionally, winning is the best, the best, the best. It’s the best thing you can do, and now I have 24 players who are eager to play on Sunday.”
So, with a resounding 4-0 victory and the desire to keep improving, Mikel Arteta and Arsenal are set for more exciting challenges ahead in the Champions League and the Premier League!
After our 4-0 success against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League, Mikel Arteta faced questions from the global media who were eager to share their views on our outstanding performance against the Dutch side. Beyond the victory over the boss, discussions revolved around our return to domestic and continental football, and much more. Here’s what he had to say:
Obviously, after such a long time, we wanted to put on the right performance to try and win the game, and the atmosphere, the music of the Champions League, was great to see. Beforehand, everyone was a bit emotional. Today, we showed especially in both boxes that we were exceptional, and I think that was the difference in the game.
On whether he was emotional before the match: Yes, I was. I wanted to control it and not show it too much, but I was genuinely excited. It’s part of the journey; the journey started last year, and we earned the right to be in this competition, where we want to be a club and now it’s our responsibility to produce at this level.
On whether the team could have performed even better after a 4-0 win:
I agree, especially box-to-box there are things that we should have done much, much better, and every day, you have to work on it. To analyze it properly, you need to be analytical, but at the same time, give credit to the boys for how they played. Scoring four goals against a team that hadn’t lost a game in the Champions League is also down to them.
On managing players who made their Champions League debuts:
I could understand it. I think we tried to use that energy and that emotion in the right way. Speaking of joy, we have to compete at this level, but there has to be a part of it where we enjoy those moments, those nights. Facing different styles in the Premier League and the Champions League: Every opponent brings different challenges, and when you score quickly in a game, it might help. It hasn’t happened much this season, which is why we also have to face opposition in other areas.
On being able to substitute players in the second half before the North London Derby:
We could manage some minutes for some of them, especially because of where they were coming from, having played many minutes with their national teams. Also, giving minutes to players was entirely justified. When I saw Emile’s reception, I was genuinely moved. Wanting to finish the game earlier and how satisfying it was: Very good, and that’s what we want to do.
That’s why I mentioned that we were exceptional in the box today. We were ruthless; we took our chances, and the quality of finishing was top, but at the same time, we could have done more, and perhaps the manager sometimes pays more attention to other areas.
On Bukayo Saka’s first game in the Champions League:
To be honest, some boys are now playing at the international level, you know, and they have significant roles in their national teams, and you can also understand that they’re not just part of the team but have quite a bit of responsibility, and they’re big players there. It’s very helpful for the team.
On choosing David Raya ahead of Aaron Ramsdale: I had confidence that I wanted to play the expected opponent. It’s not just that; the reason we made changes with all the players was that.
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