Report as Bukayo Saka starts first-half Arsenal rout with eighth-minute strike; Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus add second and third goals as hosts dominate PSV; Martin Odegaard fires home fourth from the edge of the box to mark perfect Champions League return
Bukayo Saka gives Arsenal a first-half lead against PSV Eindhoven
Image:
Bukayo Saka celebrates after scoring Arsenal’s first goal against PSV Eindhoven
Arsenal marked their Champions League return in style by hammering PSV Eindhoven 4-0 at the Emirates Stadium.
Mikel Arteta’s side delivered a perfect performance after six years away from Europe’s premier cup competition to head into the North London Derby against Tottenham this Sunday, live on Sky Sports, in fine form.
Bukayo Saka put the hosts ahead in just the eighth minute with a close-range tap-in and then Leandro Trossard fired home from the edge of the area.
Gabriel Jesus missed several first-half chances but finally added the third before the break and then Martin Odegaard wrapped up a superb display with an unstoppable drive from the edge of the box during the second half.
Player ratings:
Arsenal: Raya (7), White (7), Saliba (7), Gabriel (7), Zinchenko (7), Odegaard (8), Rice (7), Havertz (6), Saka (8), Gabriel Jesus (8), Trossard (7).
Subs: Nelson (6), Tomiyasu (6), Smith Rowe (6), Vieira (6), Jorginho (6).
PSV Eindhoven: Benitez (4), Teze (5), Bella-Kotchap (4), Boscagli (4), Dest (5), Schouten (5), Veerman (5), Bakayoko (6), Saibari (5), Lang (6), De Jong (6).
Subs: Lozano (6), Tillman (6), Ramalho (6), Vertessen (6), Pepi (n/a)
Saka began the first-half rout when Odegaard’s shot from just inside the area was parried into the path of the winger, who made no mistake from close range.
David Raya kept his place in goal for Arsenal ahead of Aaron Ramsdale. Kai Havertz replaced Fabio Vieira in midfield while Leandro Trossard came in for the injured Gabriel Martinelli.
Gabriel Jesus was the third change from Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Everton as he started up front instead of Eddie Nketiah.
Former Crystal Palace left-back Patrick van Aanholt was on the bench for PSV while Armel Bella-Kotchap, on loan from Southampton, started.
Jesus should have had his first moments later, failing to connect with a low cross from inside the six-yard box, but he played a key role in the second. The striker burst through the middle of the pitch before passing to Saka, who squared for Trossard to fire into the bottom right corner from the edge of the box.
Play Video – ‘There’s another goal…’ | Sherwood’s hilariously calm reaction to Jesus goal
Tim Sherwood reacts as Gabriel Jesus puts the Gunners three up against PSV at the Emirates
Arsenal were purring and saw Kai Havertz fire off target, Walter Benitez save twice from two Jesus efforts and Gabriel head wide at a corner all in the space of four minutes.
PSV did pose an attacking threat with winger Johan Bakayoko firing wide from the edge of the box but it was Arsenal and Jesus who found the net again. Trossard crossed for the Brazil international and he ruthlessly blasted the ball into the top left corner.
Martin Odegaard celebrates adding a fourth for Arsenal
Emile Smith Rowe made his first appearance of the season as a second-half substitute which lifted the Arsenal crowd once more and within two minutes, he was involved as Odegaard fired hard and low into the bottom left corner from 25 yards.
Source Skysport News
