UCL: Impressive Arsenal hits seven past PSG, set for the Madrid showdown

Arsenal thrash PSV 7-1 in a historic UCL win, while Real Madrid edges Atletico 2-1. Can Atletico turn it around in the second leg?

Arsenal hit seven past PSV at the Phillips Stadion to confirm a quarter final date with either of the Madrid sides, will this result give their season a lift? (Photo credit: Opta)

While the Madrid derby at the Santiago Bernabeu was the standout fixture of the night in the round of 16 of the current UCL season, Arsenal's decimation of PSV stole the headlines.

Away from what happened at the Phillips Stadion for a moment, it's important to rise to take a bow for the magnificent strike by Atletico Madrid's Argentine forward Julian Alvarez. Real Madrid took the lead through an amazing Rodrygo strike, but the former Manchester City man struck a beauty to level matters.

When Arsenal filed out to play against the Dutch side in the Netherlands, it was clear that it was a game between two teams with needs for results. Both have laboured recently and needed a lift, which the game was poised to present; only one side took advantage: the away side.

PSV led the Eredivisie by seven points at the turn of the year, but by the time they played the Gunners on Tuesday night, they were eight points off the pace, thanks to another loss to the Go Ahead Eagles at the weekend.

Arsenal, on the other hand, had failed to score in back-to-back games for the first time in two years. However, Arsenal didn't take long to impose themselves on the night. Declan Rice found the back of the net, albeit from an offside position, and as always, Arsenal nearly fell behind shortly after.

Ismael Saibari struck the woodwork with David Raya in no man's land, but moments after, Dutchman Jurrien Timber headed home from a brilliant Declan Rice cross at the near post. Ethan Nwaneri made it two shortly after with a crisp finish off a Myles Lewis-Skelly pass in the box.

The Arsenal left-back was lucky to stay on the pitch. Having received a yellow card, Lewis-Skelly clattered into Ivan Perisic towards the corner flag, but the referee refused to send him off. Arsenal scored the third shortly after, with Mikel Merino profiting from a defensive blunder in the PSV area.

Thomas Partey handed the hosts a lifeline with a strange tug in the box off a corner kick, and the referee pointed to the spot. Noa Lang converted from the spot to send the game into the break with Arsenal's advantage cut to two; Mikel Arteta didn't risk things; he yanked off Lewis-Skelly for Ricardo Calafiori.

Arsenal ran riot in the second half, scoring two quick goals after the break to end the tie on the night, but there was time for Ødegaard to complete his double on the night and for Trossard and Calafiori to get on the score sheet too, with Arsenal running out 7-1 winners.

The biggest away win in Champions League history has certainly handed Arsenal a quarterfinal ticket, where they would meet either of the Madrid sides. It ended 2-1 in favour of the Los Blancos in the first leg. Will Atletico overturn the result in the second leg next week?