An entertaining night at the Emirates Stadium culminated with a comprehensive victory for Arsenal, in their return to the UEFA Champions League after a 6-year absence.
The Gunners were free-scoring on their home turf, as they pumped goals into the goalpost of PSV Eindhoven.
Mikel Arteta’s side were clinical in attack, converting chances that fell to their path with reckless abandon.
The Dutch side couldn’t stop Arsenal from displaying their wrath, with the Premier League runners-up strolling over the Eindhoven-based club.
Bukayo Saka raced the North London side into the lead in the 8th minute, with a delightful shot beyond the reach of Walter Benitez in goal for PSV Eindhoven.
He reacted quickly to Martin Odegaard’s strike that was palmed away by the Argentine goalkeeper, to put Arsenal into the lead.
In the 12th minute, the away side protested for a penalty, after Johan Bakayoko’s cross hit the arm of Oleksandr Zinchenko.
However, the referee opted not to signal for a penalty, and after a VAR review, his decision still stood.
8 minutes later, Leandro Trossard doubled Arsenal’s advantage, with Gabriel Jesus nicely setting the ball to his right for Bukayo Saka.
Saka and Trossard fiery combination
Saka subsequently squared the ball for Trossard, who smashed a shot into the bottom right corner, beating the opposition goalie.
5 minutes later, Arsenal almost increased their lead, but Walter Benitez came in handy for Peter Bosz’s side.
Gabriel Jesus struck an effort that was destined for the top corner, but goalkeeper Benitez saved his side from going further behind.
The Gunners continued to soldier on, controlling and directing the affairs of play, and in the 38th minute, they scored their 3rd goal.
Jesus received a cross from Trossard, and he controlled the ball nicely, before hitting an irresistible shot for Arsenal’s 3rd goal of the game.
In the 42nd minute, Ben White was handed the first booking of the encounter for a foul on Sergio Dest.
Arsenal went into the break delighted with their showing in the first half, and Mikel Arteta would definitely have been proud of his side’s first-half performance.
Following the restart, Olivier Boscagli was shown a yellow card in the 47th minute for a rash challenge on Gabriel Jesus.
In the 58th minute, Arteta made his first set of substitutions in the game, bringing on Reiss Nelson for Leandro Trossard, and Takehiro Tomiyasu for Oleksandr Zinchenko.
The encounter became more relaxed in the second half, with both teams not as expansive as they were in the first 45.
PSV’s Hirving Lozano was brought on for Johan Bakayoko, while Malik Tillman was introduced for Ismael Saibari in the 66th minute.
Mikel Arteta made another set of substitutions 3 minutes later, sending on Emile Smith Rowe for Gabriel Jesus, and Fabio Viera for Bukayo Saka.
Odegaard nets final goal against PSV Eindhoven in Arsenal return to the UEFA Champions League
Just a minute later, Captain Martin Odegaard got in on the act, putting the icing on the cake for Arsenal.
It was an effort from range, as he found a way to carve an area for himself, before firing a bullet of a strike into the back of the net.
With the game nearing its culmination, Arteta made his last change bringing on Jorginho for Declan Rice.
PSV also made their own substitutions, as manager Bosz gave Andre Ramalho Silva a chance under the floodlights at the Emirates, replacing Armel Bella-Kotchap.
Yorbe Vertessen also came on for Noa Lang in the 76th minute, before Malik Tillman was yellow-carded for clattering into Jorginho in the 80th minute.
7 minutes later, another PSV Eindhoven player got his name into the referee’s book, as Jerdy Schouten was given a yellow card for pulling Kai Havertz.
Peter Bosz’s last substitution in the game against Arsenal, saw him bring on United States Ricardo Pepi for Luuk de Jong.
Following a dominant display at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal recorded a thumping victory over PSV Eindhoven.
They sit top of Group B, with 3 points and a healthy 4 goals difference, after Sevilla drew 1-1 with Lens in the other group affair.
