Arsenal secured a 2-2 draw against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday, completing a commanding 9-3 aggregate victory to book their place in the Champions League quarter-finals, where they will face either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid.
After a dominant 7-1 win in the Netherlands last week, the second leg at the Emirates was largely a formality for the Gunners. Arsenal made seven changes from their 1-1 draw at Manchester United on Sunday, and they quickly got to work, taking the lead in the sixth minute thanks to Oleksandr Zinchenko’s clinical strike.
PSV responded just 12 minutes later, with Croatian veteran Ivan Perisic finding the equalizer with a powerful finish past the sprawling David Raya. Arsenal regained their advantage shortly thereafter, as Declan Rice rose highest to head home from a corner.
PSV, eager to salvage some pride after their heavy loss in the first leg, equalized once more in the 70th minute. The goal came courtesy of Couhaib Driouech, who scored with a delicate finish over Raya’s head, pulling the Dutch side level on the night.
As the final whistle blew, Arsenal’s opponents in the next round remained undecided. Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid were deadlocked at 2-2 on aggregate, sending both teams into extra time.
The Gunners, who have never won the Champions League and have not claimed a European trophy since their 1994 Cup Winners’ Cup triumph, faced little threat in the second leg, but their performance was clinical.
Raheem Sterling, deployed as a right-winger, made an immediate impact, delivering a perfect pass to Zinchenko, who calmly slotted past goalkeeper Walter Benitez.
Perisic’s equalizer in the 18th minute briefly threatened Arsenal’s dominance, but Raya was alert to the danger, making a crucial save moments later to deny Driouech.
In the 37th minute, Arsenal regained the lead through Rice, whose header from Sterling’s excellent cross restored their advantage.
The second half saw PSV push forward, with Raya once again keeping Arsenal ahead, diving full length to save an effort from Isaac Babadi. However, PSV finally broke through in the 70th minute when Driouech, making his first Champions League start, lifted the ball over Raya to make it 2-2 on the night.
Despite PSV’s late pressure, neither side could find a winner, and Arsenal held firm to ensure their progression to the quarter-finals.
