Force to be reckoned with: Spanish media react as Arsenal’s 7-1 win sends a message to Madrid

Arsenal’s record 7-1 Champions League win over PSV hit the Spanish headlines, as top publications hailed their ‘brilliance ‘masterclass’ ahead of a likely showdown with Madrid.

EINDHOVEN, NETHERLANDS - MARCH 04: Martin Odegaard of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 first leg match between PSV and Arsenal FC at PSV Stadion on March 04, 2025 in Eindhoven, Netherlands. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) — Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

Arsenal’s record-breaking 7-1 demolition of PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League Round of 16 generated headlines across Spain, with the country’s leading sports publications acknowledging the ruthlessness of Mikel Arteta’s side.

With Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid awaiting the Gunners in the quarter-finals, the Spanish press was unanimous in its assessment: Arsenal are a force to be reckoned with in Europe.

Madrid awaits Arsenal – AS

Madrid awaits Arsenal The 'gunners’, after beating PSV, virtually ensure to be the rival of the euroderbi winner AS5 Mar 2025 Merino beats Benitez in Arsenal's third goal against PSV at the Philips Stadion. Arteta was not without reason when he said in the preview that the PSV was a game that brought “a different energy". After two consecutive punctures in the Premier League that left them 13 points off the lead, both without gunners goals, Arsenal feasted on a great taste of the quarterfinals, where the winner of the duel between Real Madrid and Atletico will await, except for a historic surprise. Bosz's team paid for the broken dishes and the last troubles of the London team in the domestic competition and took a resounding victory in the first leg of the knockout stages (1-7). No sign of the team that eliminated Juventus in the sixteenth. Up to six different goalscorers celebrated for Arsenal on the Philips Stadion pitch: Timber, Nwaneri, Merino, Odegaard (twice), Trossard and Calafiori. Merino justified, with a goal and an assist, his third consecutive start as an offensive reference and Odegaard signed his best performance of the year, with a double and a magic assist. Although the tie has 90 minutes remaining at the Emirates Stadium, the gunners are already waiting for an opponent in the quarterfinals: Madrid or Atletico. In the move immediately after the shot from inside the area that Saibari smashed into the crossbar, Arsenal went ahead. Rice acted as an assistant and put a measured cross to the second stick for the appearance of the Timber. The joy gunner was double surpassed the 20 minutes of the match. First, when Nwaneri finished a play from the left side to make it 0-2, his second goal in this Champions League. Between the 17-year-old footballer and Lewis-Skelly, 18, they doubled the London advantage. However, the Arsenal left-back's performance lasted just 34 minutes. Gil Manzano forgave him a very clear second yellow and Arteta did not hesitate to take him off the pitch. Goalscorer. In his third start as the team's emergency 9, Merino did see goal. The Navarro took a low, threaded shot at the long post. The former Real Sociedad player's fifth goal in his first year as a gunner. The only but of an almost perfect first half for Arsenal was the penalty committed by Thomas on the edge of the break and converted by Lang. In case the tie was not on track enough, Arteta's pupils took care that the second leg at the Emirates was nothing more than a formality. In a matter of a minute, as soon as the second half started, Odegaard joined the gunner party with the 1-4, in the 46th minute, and Trossard gave the definitive blow to PSV in the 47th’ But the Arsenal captain had to round off his magnificent performance, the best in recent months, with the away set-piece and an assist that only footballers of his quality can imagine. Odegaard, who for the 1-6 had the collaboration of Merino, drove to the front and beat the loose hand of Benítez. With five minutes to go, the Norwegian leaked a spectacular pass to the back of the back that Calafiori, as if it were an area killer, did not miss. The definitive end to the Arsenal beating. Figures Odegaard scores a brace and Merino also sees goal Relapse Lewis-Skelly arrived between cottons and left injured in the 34’ — AS Madrid awaits Arsenal

Spanish daily AS framed Arsenal’s destruction of PSV as the ultimate statement ahead of a potential showdown with one of Madrid’s giants.

“After two consecutive setbacks in the Premier League that left them 13 points behind the leaders – both without scoring – Arsenal feasted on the taste of the quarterfinals,” it wrote, adding that the only thing standing between them and a quarter-final against Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid is “an historic surprise” in the second leg at the Emirates Stadium.

The report highlighted the dominance of Martin Ødegaard, calling it his “best performance of the season” after scoring twice and delivering a “sublime assist.”

Mikel Merino, operating as a false nine, was also praised for justifying Arteta’s faith in him.

EINDHOVEN, NETHERLANDS - MARCH 04: Mikel Merino of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 first leg match between PSV and Arsenal FC at PSV Stadion on March 04, 2025 in Eindhoven, Netherlands. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) — Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

There was also criticism of PSV, who had stunned Juventus in the previous round. “No sign of the team that eliminated Juventus in the last round,” the paper remarked.

“If the tie wasn’t already decided, Arteta’s players ensured the second leg at the Emirates would be a mere formality.”

Arsenal warns with a historic 1-7 to PSV – Mundo Deportivo

Arsenal warns with a historic 1-7 to PSV The 'gunner' team, first to score seven out Mundo Deportivo (Gipuzkoa)5 Mar 2025 PHOTO: AP Mikel Merino celebrates scoring his first Champions League goal for Arsenal PSV, 1 Benitez; Ledezma (Karsdorp, 65'), Flamingo (Nagalo, 46'), Boscagli (Veerman, 82'), Malacia; Saibari (Bishop, 82'), Schouten, Til; Perisic, Luuk de Jong (Bakayoko, 66'), Lang Arsenal, 7 Raya; Timber (White, 77'), Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães, Lewis-Skelly (Calafiori, 35'); Thomas (Zinchenko, 71'), Odegaard, Rice; Nwaneri (Sterling, 71'), Merino (Tierney, 77'), Trossard Goals: 0-1 Timber (18'), 0-2 Nwaneri (21'), 0-3 Merino (31'), 1-3 Lang (pen.) (43'), 1-4 Odegaard (47'), 1-5 Trossard (48'), 1-6 Odegaard (73'), 1-7 Calafiori (85') Cards: BOOKED: Lewis-Skelly (24'), Thomas (42'), Timber (69'), Malacia (89') Referee: Gil Manzano (Spain) Stadium: Philips Stadion The Champions League is the tournament that Mikel Arteta's Arsenal has left to save the season and yesterday he left his passage to the quarters resolved after defeating PSV in the first leg of the knockout stages with a historic 1-7 in Eindhoven. The 'gunner' team took advantage of PSV's defensive problems with a brace from Odegaard and two goals each from Mikel Merino, Timber, Nwaneri, Trossard and Calafiori. Arsenal presented his candidacy, although Real Madrid or Atlético will be waiting for him in the quarters. It is the biggest victory away from home of a team in the knockout stage of the Champions League. Eliminated from the FA Cup and the Carabao, in the Premier League 13 points behind leaders Liverpool (who have played a match more), Arsenal and their fans have their illusion in the Champions League. There was a possible penalty to Odegaard and a goal to Declan Rice was cancelled out, but Jurriën Timber was able to open the way after saving a great ball sent by Rice himself. Three minutes later, Arteta's 'children' showed their quality and, after a move by Myles Lewis-Skelly (18 years old), Et-han Nwaneri (17) scored. A great goal. Lewis-Skelly was relieved in the 35th minute after, having a yellow, he was not penalized for an entry that could have been red. He was replaced by Riccardo Calafiori. In the 31st minute, Mikel Merino's first goal came (again acting as a false nine) in Champions League as a ‘gunner' player. With the left-handed one. PSV overcame something at the end of the first period, when Noa Lang put the 1-3 on the scoreboard by converting a penalty committed by Thomas Partey, who grabbed the former Barcelona player Luuk de Jong in the 43’. But PSV just wanted to collapse in the second half against an incredibly superior Arsenal. Odegaard followed with a double (47’, when he took advantage of a rejection, and 73', after receiving an assist from Merino). Between one and another ‘bullseye’ of the Arsenal captain scored the fifth of the night Leandro Trossard assis-tido by Riccardo Calafiori, author of the seventh, on a pass from Odegaard Odegaard bigoleó and so many of Mikel Merino, Timber, Nwaneri, Trossard and Calafiori — Mundo Deportivo – Arsenal warns with a historic 1-7 to PSV

Mundo Deportivo took a broader approach, underlining the importance of the Champions League for Arsenal given their faltering domestic campaign.

“With Arsenal’s Premier League title chase all but over, trailing Liverpool by 13 points, and having already been eliminated from the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, the Champions League remains their last shot at silverware,” they wrote.

The Catalan publication labelled it an “historic” win, which it was, noting that Arsenal became the first team to score seven goals away from home in a Champions League knockout match.

It also acknowledged the impact of Arsenal’s young stars:

“Three minutes later, Nwaneri – aged 17 years and 346 days – etched his name into Champions League history, becoming the third-youngest player to score in a knockout stage match, following Bojan Krkić and Jude Bellingham. His goal came from a move orchestrated by Myles Lewis-Skelly (18), showcasing the fearless youthful talent in Arteta’s ranks.”

Ødegaard’s class was another key focus. “Arsenal’s captain was unplayable, scoring again in the 73rd minute, assisted by Merino, before providing an exquisite pass for Calafiori (85′) to apply the finishing touch.

“The Philips Stadion emptied out long before the final whistle, PSV’s fans unable to endure the humiliation. For Arsenal, it was a statement performance – and a warning to their potential quarterfinal opponents. Arteta’s men mean business.“

The Arsenal is a cannon – Marca

The Arsenal is a cannon HISTORIC GOAL AGAINST PSV: THEY ARE ALREADY WAITING FOR MADRID OR ATLÉTICO IN THE QUARTERS. A goal from Merino, two from Odegaard, Nwaneri enters the history of the Champions League... and Arteta's team get rid of the 'mini-crisis’ they suffered in the Premier League • PSV barely f... Marca Catalunya5 Mar 2025 LAPRESSE Mikel Merino (28) celebrates his goal against PSV. A period review. Arsenal toured Eindhoven and sealed the tie in the first leg with a historic 1-7! at the Phillips Stadion. The game had no color and Arteta's left a football recital to fix his mini-crisis in Premier. A goal from Merino and a double from Odegaard to lead the Gunners... and wait for Real Madrid or Atletico in the quarters. Any doubts Arsenal might have had on their arrival in Eindhoven (two consecutive Premier League games without a win), they cleared them up in an excellent match. Control of the game, chances and a clear superiority over a PSV that prolonged its crisis in the Eredivisie and Copa... to the Champions League. A ’GUNNER' DANCE First, a possible penalty on Odegaard and, shortly after, a goal disallowed to Declan Rice for offside. PSV had a glimpse of reaction with Perisic and Saibari but the Dutch ran into the crossbar. Arsenal were also going to have a bit of luck on their visit to the Netherlands. And then the goals started to fall: Timber (ex-Ajax) and Nwaneri put the 0-2 in a matter of moments. The young winger, at 17 years and 346 days, was the third youngest player to score in a Champions League qualifier after Bojan and Bellingham. With the 0-2, however, everything could have changed if Gil Manzano had taken a deserved second yellow to the also very young Lewis-Skelly. He didn't do it... and Merino scored the 0-3 after Flamingo fell asleep. It took very little for Arteta to react and take it off to get Calafiori in. I didn't want any scares. And yet he had it. Although it was brief and fleeting. A penalty from Partey on De Jong, and the 1-3 from Lang that opened (a little) the match before the break. But half-time settled the Gunners well and Arteta plugged them in. Two goals in three minutes as soon as the match resumed: Odegaard and Trossard. The Norwegian, in fact, allowed himself to continue shining: one goal nullified and another on the counterattack for the 1-6. It was a walk of the Londoners. And the stands were emptying with the home fans parading outside Phillips Stadion. But one more remained: 1-7 with the signature of Calafiori. Elimination already sentenced in the first leg. Arsenal and Mikel Arteta are scary. — Marca – The Arsenal is a cannon

Marca delivered a more dramatic verdict, describing Arsenal’s win as a “football masterclass” that banished any doubts after their recent Premier League stumbles.

The Madrid-based newspaper called it a “a performance for the ages”, underlining how the Gunners dismantled PSV with ease.

“The match was entirely one-sided, and Arteta’s team delivered a footballing masterclass to shake off their recent struggles in the Premier League,” Marca wrote.

Despite Arsenal’s dominance, Marca suggested Lewis-Skelly was fortunate not to receive a second yellow card before Arteta substituted him. “With the 0-2, however, everything could have changed if Gil Manzano had taken a given second yellow to the also very young Lewis-Skelly.”

“Yet, whatever Arteta said in the dressing room worked wonders,” they added. “Within three minutes of the restart, Arsenal struck twice more – Ødegaard and Trossard making it 1-4 and 1-5 in quick succession.”

The report ended with an ominous warning for Arsenal’s future opponents, declaring: “Arsenal and Mikel Arteta are a force to be reckoned with.”