Featured Image Credit: Getty Images
Topics: Arsenal, Champions League, PSV, Eredivisie, Premier League, Mikel Arteta
Jack Kenmare
Topics: Arsenal, Champions League, PSV, Eredivisie, Premier League, Mikel Arteta
It was a history-making night for Arsenal and Ethan Nwaneri on Tuesday as the Gunners breezed past PSV Eindhoven in their Champions League last 16 clash.
Arsenal became the first team to score seven goals in an away knockout match in Champions League history as Mikel Arteta's side effectively sealed their place in the quarter-finals.
Jurrien Timber opened the scoring in the 18th minute before Nwaneri, Mikel Merino, Martin Odegaard [2], Leandro Trossard and Riccardo Calafiori secured a memorable 7-1 victory.
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It was a record-breaking evening in Eindhoven.
For the first time in the competition's history, two English teenagers combined for a goal in the Champions League after Miles Lewis-Skelly assisted Nwaneri.
And following that goal, it emerged that the 17-year-old has now scored more open play goals in UCL knockout games than former Chelsea and Real Madrid winger Eden Hazard.
As pointed out by X account now.arsenal, Hazard netted two goals in Champions League knockout games, with both of them coming from the penalty spot against Paris Saint-Germain in 2014 and 2015 respectively.
At 17 years and 348 days, Nwaneri is also third on the list of youngest Champions League knockout stage goalscorers behind Jude Bellingham and former Barcelona forward Bojan Krkic.
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Declan Rice was full of praise for the teenager following Tuesday's game.
Asked about Nwaneri’s performance, Rice told TNT Sports: “Top, he’s 17-years-old and playing on the biggest stage in football, it’s crazy.
“We see him every day in training. All of the lads have taken him under our wings, same with Myles [Lewis-Skelly] and they deserve to be playing. You should see them train they way they have no fear, they want to come and perform he was brilliant tonight."
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Rice added: "Listen, even if Saks was still here Ethan would still be in and around the team and getting minutes because trust me he trains that well and he’s that good.
“He’s with us, same with Myles even though he came off due to the yellow card we have two youngsters and we have plenty more coming through who are so, so good as well.”
Thoughts on Nwaneri's season so far? Let us know in the comments.