UCL: Gunners Cruise into Quarterfinals with 9-3 Aggregate Win

Arsenal secures a spot in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals with a 9-3 aggregate win over PSV Eindhoven, despite a 2-2 draw in the second leg.

Arsenal cruised into the Champions League quarterfinals despite being held to a 2-2 draw by PSV Eindhoven. The Gunners' commanding 7-0 lead from the first leg proved insurmountable, as they advanced with a 9-3 aggregate victory.

PSV Eindhoven staged a spirited fightback, twice equalizing to deny Arsenal a win on the night. Meanwhile, Arsenal's heavily rotated lineup, featuring several fringe players, showcased their determination to shine on the UCL stage, even with the tie essentially wrapped up.

Oleksandr Zinchenko, one of the incoming players, made an instant impact, collecting Raheem Sterling's pass and unleashing a stunning strike to open the scoring against his former club just six minutes into his fifth start of the season.

Jakub Kiwior's careless pass almost proved costly, but Johan Bakayoko's wayward shot spared his blushes. However, Ivan Perišić made no mistake, expertly finding the top corner to level the score. PSV Eindhoven continued to threaten, with Couhaib Driouech's curling effort forcing a fingertip save from David Raya. Arsenal regained control, and Myles Lewis-Skelly came agonizingly close to restoring the lead, only to see his shot diverted onto the post by Walter Benítez.

Arsenal book their place in the last 8 💪#UCL pic.twitter.com/NxdOOI1jcN

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 12, 2025

Arsenal's second goal arrived in the 37th minute, courtesy of Sterling's exceptional cross, which Declan Rice clinically headed home. Shortly after, Gabriel Magalhães produced a superb block to deny Driouech, and Benítez rushed out to thwart Sterling's attempt on goal.

Following a routine save from a White effort, David Raya showcased his agility by diving across his line to deflect Isaac Babadi's shot wide. Joey Veerman then narrowly missed the target with a guided attempt, and Riccardo Calafiori, who had just entered the game, linked up impressively with Kieran Tierney and Myles Lewis-Skelly before seeing his shot saved.

However, Couhaib Driouech, making his first UCL start, equalized with a clever chip over Raya. PSV continued to press, taking advantage of Arsenal's dwindling intensity. Babadi saw one shot blocked by Calafiori and another saved by Raya, while Raheem Sterling was denied again by Walter Benítez following a slick combination with Martin Ødegaard. Ultimately, Arsenal's quest for a sixth consecutive UCL win was thwarted, but this will have little impact as they look ahead to a quarterfinal clash with either Real Madrid or Atlético Madrid.

Two assists ✅
Champions League Player of the Match ✅

A big performance from Raheem 👏 pic.twitter.com/MHYAUad2tf

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 12, 2025

PSV can take pride in their resilient response to the heavy defeat suffered at the Philips Stadion. Notably, they have also secured a win over Heerenveen since then, demonstrating their ability to bounce back from adversity.