Ahead of their North London derby on Sunday, Arsenal sent a warning shot to Spurs as they demolished PSV Eindhoven 4-0 in the club’s six-year return to Europe’s premier cup competition. While many fans had high expectations, they definitely did not expect their team to come roaring out of the gates from minute one. After just 8 minutes, their star boy Bukayo Saka reacted fastest to a parried shot and gave the host the lead. Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus then completed the first-half rout with quality individual and team displays as Arsenal went into the break 3 nil up. Captain Ødegaard then capped off the night with a goal as well.
ARSENAL RETURN TO THE 🆑 IN STYLE 🔫 pic.twitter.com/pj5gl4Vf5D
— 433 (@433) September 20, 2023
Free-Flowing Arsenal Ignites Hope in Their Return to the Champions League
It was not the most memorable occasion for Arsenal and their fans when they were still in the competition six years ago. In March 2017, Arsenal bowed out of the Champions League after a humiliating 10-2 aggregate defeat to Bayern Munich. However, fast forward to 2023, they now kickstart their return to the Champions League after six years with an emphatic 4-0 win over PSV.
With a new manager at the helm and a new squad filled with star quality, Arsenal are actually one of the teams pitched by many to stop defending champions Manchester City. Take this match against PSV, for example. Arsenal became only the seventh side to have as many as four different players score on their UEFA Champions League debut for the club in the same match since the memorable Haaland, Szoboszlai RB Salzburg team in 2019.
Furthermore, let us not forget Arsenal had a 9-point lead ahead of Manchester City last season heading into the final three months. Moreover, Arsenal beat City on penalties in the season opener Community Shield and are now currently just 2 points behind the gladiators. Thus, what is there to stop Arsenal fans from dreaming and the Arsenal team from believing in themselves in finally breaking the curse? Let us know your thoughts about their chances on our site here.
@afcjulinio Arsenal back in the UCL❤️😭#arsenal #viral #football #fyp #footballtiktok #UCL #fypシ #footballedit ♬ A thousand years – Zeus
Mikel Arteta’s Official Post-Match Statement: “It Was a Beautiful Night.”
Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta was delighted in his press conference as he saw his team dominate play against the Eredivisie leaders and described the night as beautiful. “It was a beautiful night. It was great to see the atmosphere and the Champions League music. It was getting a bit emotional before. We showed in both boxes we were exceptional, and that made the difference.”
Arteta also stated that Arsenal deserves to be in the competition, and it is their duty to perform. “I was really excited about the game. I did not show that too much. It is part of the journey that started last year. We earned the right to be in this competition as a club, and now we have a duty and responsibility to produce and stay at this level.”
Despite the dominant win, Arteta still seeks ways for his squad to improve. “From box to box, there were things we should have done much better. But at the same time, to play the way they play in certain moments and score four goals in the Champions League against a team that has not lost a game, credit to them (Players).”
💬 “It was really emotional just listening to the music and the atmosphere that we had in the stadium. It is a good memory for the first game to win 4-0 and the way we played, I’m really happy.”
The boss reflects on his @ChampionsLeague managerial debut 👇
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 20, 2023
Saka and Son Set Apart North London Derby Rivarly During London Fashion Week
Prior to their Champions League match and a week before the North London derby, Bukayo Saka and Son Heung-Min both made an appearance at London Fashion Week, attending Burberry’s Spring/Summer 2024 show at Highbury Fields in Islington, located in the heart of Arsenal’s home turf.
Despite arriving separately, the two seemed to have forgone their North London derby for the day as they sat next to each other in the front row and posed for pictures together. While Roy Keane may be fuming about rival players having a laugh before a derby, especially the North London derby, it is difficult for us to criticise two of the nicest footballers on the planet.
Staying on the North London derby, Arsenal will host Spurs on Sunday, with both teams on equal points heading into this North London derby fixture. Arsenal has won 3 of the last 5 meetings between the two and has not lost at home since 2018. However, Spurs look like a team renewed with energy as they hope to continue their form after their dramatic comeback against Sheffield United. While Arsenal will go into the first North London derby as favourites, Spurs could pose a threat on the tackle as they have a knack of beating title challenges away from home at the start of a season.
Where to Watch the North London Derby?
AsiaSport is the recommended platform if you are unsure where to watch the North London derby. The site provides real-time updates, lineups, stats of the match and high-definition highlights. AsiaSport also provides a detailed analysis to allow for better pre-match preparation. Lastly, the site also brings news of your favourite teams and a fantasy sports game to enjoy.
