The matchday program at Arsenal included the lyrics of the Champions League’s song due to the intense anticipation around their first appearance in the tournament in six years. When “Zadok The Priest” came on, few people joined in, but there was an audible cheer as the first few notes rang out around a soggy Emirates Stadium, providing a cathartic release of the sorrow caused by their protracted absence from Europe’s top club stage.
The Gunners were determined to take advantage of their return to prominence, and they did not disappoint, cruising to a 4-0 victory over PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday with a confidence usually reserved for Champions League veterans. However, none of the starters from their previous game, a 5-1 loss to Bayern Munich at home in March 2017, are still with the team.
Since just one player from that team is still alive today, midfielder Mohamed Elneny and Mikel Arteta is a first-time Champions League manager, the home team may have been excused if they approached this prestigious event with some trepidation. Despite the adrenaline pumping through their veins, none were on display.
In his post-game press conference, Arteta praised the atmosphere and Champions League music, saying, “It was great to see them.” Before that, everyone was showing signs of emotion. Yes, I was rather emotional. I was very enthusiastic about it. I was quite aroused, but I tried to control myself and hide it.
The trip began the previous year when we won the opportunity to participate in this competition, which is where we must be as a club. We must now create what must be produced in order to maintain this level.
“I believe we handled that vigor and enthusiasm well. mentioning the pleasure. At this level, it is obvious that we must compete, but you must also take pleasure in these moments, as I believe they will stick in your memory.
Even if PSV’s defense was unmistakably Europa League, Arsenal displayed the kind of merciless efficiency in front of goal that Arteta has lamented in the team’s Premier League season thus far.
Games have been closer than Arteta preferred since they haven’t been able to convert their superiority into goals, but they jumped out to a 3-0 lead after just 38 minutes thanks to goals from Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, and Gabriel Jesus. PSV was unable to match Arsenal’s firepower, which allowed Arteta to go on autopilot in the second half and make a number of adjustments in preparation for Sunday’s north London derby, including resting Jesus, Saka, and midfield anchor Declan Rice. On the stroke of 70 minutes, Martin Degaard added a fourth goal, drilling home from the edge of the box in a move that is quickly coming to define his game.
PSV, who played Arsenal last season in the Europa League group stage, provides a gauge of Arsenal’s recent development. The Eredivisie team won the rematch 2-0 after losing by a single goal in north London in October.
Since then, Arsenal has made significant investments, bringing in Trossard in January, Rice in the summer, and Kai Havertz in the fall (all of whom began their careers here). The final outcome was a commanding victory that provided a strong basis on which they could construct their Group B challenge.
David Raya’s goalkeeping choice would have been more of a talking point on another night. This season, Arteta has emphasized the idea of switching around his goalies, but the fact that Raya began this game for the second time in a row is concerning for Aaron Ramsdale.
Ramsdale was promptly disqualified from consideration as Arsenal’s cup keeper in this situation. The hierarchy will be clearly defined if Raya starts against Tottenham Hotspur and Ramsdale gets substituted for the EFL Cup match against Brentford on Wednesday.
The main factor in Raya’s selection by Arsenal was his dexterity with the ball. The Spanish international signed a season-long loan agreement with Brentford, with an option for a permanent transfer that the Gunners will almost definitely exercise. In this setting, the opening action of the game felt significant.
Raya attempted to begin an Arsenal attack after receiving the ball from Jesus, which allowed the backline to start substantially higher up the field. Midfielder Havertz played 90 minutes in one of his more encouraging performances while wearing an Arsenal shirt, but Raya finished with 58 touches, surpassing him.
Arteta refused to discuss the choice any further, stating that it was “a belief that I had in the team I was interested in playing against the expected opponent — not only that, but I made the other changes for the same reason.”
Arteta was lightly ridiculed in some circles for once playing “You Will Never Walk Alone” during a practice in an effort to get his team used to playing Liverpool at Anfield, only to lose. Jesus claimed that a few team members made the decision to play the Champions League anthem at the gym earlier this week, mostly as a joke.
Whether it was a joke or not, Arsenal this time seemed like they belonged.