Football analysts will be dissecting and re-living Arsenal’s jaw-dropping 7-1 demolition of PSV in the Champions League for a long time to come. To the uninitiated, the question would be how the Gunners managed to pull off such a stunning feat, especially considering that their forward line was significantly weakened due to injuries. Key players like Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli were not part of the lineup that faced the reigning Eredivisie champions.
But under Mikel Arteta’s astute leadership, Arsenal, aided significantly by Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard, made light work of their opposition on enemy soil. Odegaard’s performance was particularly noteworthy, leaving many in awe of his world-class display. The Norwegian midfield maestro didn’t need any favors from the on-pitch official, having been justifiably denied a first-half penalty. He still managed to earn a remarkable 9.2/10 rating from Sofascore, thanks to his mesmerizing performance that saw him gliding all over the pitch, providing an assist and netting two goals in Arsenal’s seven-goal thrashing of PSV.
Odegaard’s astounding statistics for the match included 53 touches, a pass success rate of 86% (37/43), three key passes, one big chance created, one out of three dribbles completed, and two out of six ground duels won.
Commentators are seemingly running out of adjectives to describe Odegaard’s prowess. BBC Radio 5 Live’s Chris Sutton lauded the ex-Real Madrid star for his assist to Riccardo Calafiori’s goal, terming the pass as one of ‘brilliance’. The 26-year-old Arsenal captain made a significant contribution to Arsenal’s victory over Peter Bosz’s men.
While rivals may dismiss the match due to the perceived quality difference between PSV and teams like Liverpool’s upcoming opponent PSG, the importance of wrapping up a first-leg tie ahead of meeting one of Madrid’s football powerhouses cannot be downplayed. Mikel Arteta will undoubtedly be overjoyed with his 9/10 rated midfield maestro, who singlehandedly dismantled PSV, proving that even without key players, Arsenal is a force to be reckoned with.