[London] The excitement was palpable at Arsenal as they made their long-awaited return to the Champions League after a six-year absence. The anticipation was so high that they even printed the lyrics to the competition’s anthem in the matchday program, although not many fans sang along to “Zadok The Priest.” Nonetheless, there was an audible cheer as the iconic anthem played out at a rain-soaked Emirates Stadium, signifying a cathartic release from the pain of their prolonged absence from Europe’s premier club stage.
The Gunners were determined to make the most of their moment back in the big time, and they did not disappoint. They cruised to a 4-0 victory over PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday, displaying the kind of authority typically associated with seasoned Champions League campaigners. Interestingly, none of the players who started in their previous Champions League outing—a 5-1 home defeat to Bayern Munich in March 2017—remains at the club today. In fact, only one survivor from that squad, midfielder Mohamed Elneny, remains, and with a Champions League rookie manager in Mikel Arteta, one might have expected some hesitancy on this grand occasion. However, no such hesitation was on display, despite the palpable excitement coursing through the team.
“It was great to feel the atmosphere and hear the Champions League music,” Arteta said in his post-match press conference. “Everyone was getting a bit emotional before the game, including myself. I wanted to control my emotions and not show too much, but I was genuinely excited. The journey to this moment started last year when we earned the right to be in this competition, which is where we belong as a club. Now, we have to perform at this level.”
“I think we channeled that energy and emotion in the right way. It’s important to enjoy these moments because, in the end, they are what create lasting memories.”
While it must be noted that PSV’s defending left much to be desired, Arsenal displayed a ruthless efficiency in front of goal, a quality that Arteta had lamented as missing in their Premier League campaign. Their ability to convert their superiority into goals was evident as they raced to a 3-0 lead within 38 minutes, with Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, and Gabriel Jesus all finding the net with well-taken finishes. PSV struggled to cope with Arsenal’s firepower, allowing Arteta to make numerous changes in the second half, keeping Sunday’s North London derby in mind. This included resting key players like Jesus, Saka, and midfield anchor Declan Rice. Martin Ødegaard, relishing the freedom in dangerous areas, added a fourth goal on the 70th minute, further solidifying his place as a key player for Arsenal.
The fact that PSV faced Arsenal last season in the Europa League group stage offers a glimpse of Arsenal’s evolution. Last October, PSV narrowly lost by a single goal in North London and won the return game 2-0. Since then, Arsenal has invested heavily, signing players like Trossard, Rice, and Kai Havertz, all of whom started in this game. The result was a statement win that sets a solid foundation for their Group B campaign.
In a resounding comeback to the Champions League after six long years, Arsenal secured a dominating 4-0 win against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday. / Image source-google | Image by- ESPN india
On a different note, the selection of David Raya in goal raised some eyebrows. Arteta had mentioned the possibility of rotating goalkeepers this season, and Raya’s consecutive starts suggest that Aaron Ramsdale faces tough competition. Raya’s ability with his feet, which allows Arsenal to start their backline higher up the pitch, was a key reason for his selection. His 58 touches in the game even surpassed those of midfielder Havertz, who had an encouraging performance in an Arsenal shirt.
Arteta didn’t delve into further discussion about the goalkeeper decision, explaining it as “a belief that I had in the team I wanted to play against the expected opponent—not only that, I made the other changes for the same reason.”
Arteta has been playfully mocked in the past for playing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” during training to prepare his team for facing Liverpool at Anfield, only to lose the match. This time around, several squad members chose to play the Champions League anthem in the gym earlier in the week, perhaps in jest but also as a way to soak in the significance of their return to the competition.