Arsenal fans are all saying the same thing after their dominant Champions League round of 16 first-leg victory over PSV.
Mikel Arteta’s side put on a stunning display at the Philips Stadion, completely outclassing their Dutch opponents.
Jurrien Timber set the tone with an 18th-minute opener, and just three minutes later, Ethan Nwaneri doubled the lead after a well-timed assist from Myles Lewis-Skelly. By the 31st minute, Arsenal were in full control, with Mikel Merino adding a third. Noa Lang pulled one back from the penalty spot just before halftime, but the Gunners quickly regained their momentum after the break.
Martin Ødegaard restored Arsenal’s three-goal cushion early in the second half, followed by a strike from Leandro Trossard and another from Ødegaard. Riccardo Calafiori then capped off the performance with Arsenal’s seventh goal, sealing a memorable night for Arteta’s men.
A Tactical Surprise from Arteta?
Amid Arsenal’s attacking masterclass, fans spotted an interesting tactical adjustment—one Arteta had hinted at weeks earlier.
Prior to Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Leicester on February 15, Arteta had a playful exchange with Martin Keown on TNT Sports. Keown jokingly suggested Riccardo Calafiori could be used as a striker, referencing his goal-scoring exploits against Manchester City and Wolves. Arteta’s response—“It’s been done in the past… especially against low blocks, it is an option we have.”—now seems more significant in hindsight.
Following Calafiori’s goal against PSV, Arsenal supporters took to social media, convinced that Arteta had indeed pushed the Italian defender further forward.
One fan remarked, “We have centre-backs scoring like strikers. Just look at that finish from Riccardo Calafiori.”
Another joked, “Calafiori’s more dangerous than Sterling in the final third—what a finish.”
A third wrote, “How do I explain that Calafiori actually plays like an attacker and not a defender?”
After the emphatic win, Martin Ødegaard reflected on the team’s performance, telling UEFA, “I really enjoyed that… It’s hard to explain, but today we showed what we’re capable of. Hopefully, we can keep this going.”
Arteta, meanwhile, acknowledged the importance of the result, especially given Arsenal’s recent struggles in front of goal. “So happy for the boys because we hadn’t scored in our last two games, and we know the noise around that,” he told Prime Video. “It’s a huge result away from home in a competition we love and have missed for so many years. Tonight is a special night.”
Whether Calafiori’s advanced role was a deliberate tactical move or just a natural extension of Arsenal’s fluid attacking play, one thing is clear—Arteta continues to find innovative ways to break down opponents.