Arsenal secured a comfortable 4-0 win over PSV Eindhoven in the opening match of the Champions League group stage, thanks to goals from Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard.
The Gunners dominated the game from start to finish, creating numerous chances and limiting the visitors to few opportunities.
Arsenal waited for six years to return to the Europe’s elite club competition but didn’t wait too long to get the first goal of the match.
Star boy Bukayo Saka rebounded on Martin Odegaard’s shot that had been saved by PSV goalkeeper Walter Benitez just eight minutes after kickoff to get Arsenal’s first goal of the night.
Saka, who was lively on the right wing then turned provider when he set up Leandro Trossard in the 20th minute to double Arsenal’s lead. The Belgian sent a powerful first-time shot into the bottom corner that gave Benitez absolutely no chance to make a save.
With two goals down, PSV tried to put some pressure on Arsenal’s defense and pull one back but this never worked. Instead, it was the Gunners that capitalized on this and mounted a counterattack that resulted into their third.
Gabriel Magalhaes floated the ball to the left wing to find Trossard who in turn crossed it to Gabriel Jesus in the PSV box. The Brazilian’s first touch was great, and the second was a powerful shot that beat Benitez on its way to the back of the net.
Mikel Arteta’s men went into the half-time break leading 3-0 with David Raya, who was making his Champions League debut not troubled at all.
The second half was just about managing the lead but the Gunners found time to get a fourth goal through captain Odegaard, who found the bottom corner from outside the 18-yard box.
The win puts Arsenal on top of Group B. The other group game between Sevilla and Lens ended in a 1-all draw.
