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A cagey first leg was projected for the Gunners, but Mikel Arteta’s goal-shy outfit took full advantage of an aggressive PSV side that paid little respect to the art of defending. The Premier League outfit scored seven times from eight shots on target, and had six different goalscorers on the scoresheet.
Their place in the Champions League quarter-finals is all but secure, and they’ll face one of the Madrid clubs in the last eight.
PSV did respond to their battering by beating Heerenveen in the Eredivisie on Saturday, but they continue to trail league leaders Ajax by eight points. Arsenal’s deficit to runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool extended to 15 points on Sunday after their winless domestic run extended to three games. The Gunners could only muster a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.
Here is 90min’s guide to the round of 16 second leg in north London.
Arsenal welcomed Gabriel Martinelli back from a hamstring injury on Sunday, with the Brazilian earning 30 minutes off the bench at Old Trafford. He should be part of a rotated XI on Wednesday night.
Arteta suggested that Ben White is ready for his first start since November in midweek, and the England hopeful should replace Jurrien Timber at right-back. There should also be some rejigging in midfield, with the likes of Jorginho and Oleksandr Zinchenko in contention.
Bukayo Saka should be back in April and may well be in contention for the quarter-finals, but Takehiro Tomiyasu, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz are out for the rest of the season.
Arsenal predicted lineup vs PSV (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Jorginho, Zinchenko, Nwaneri; Sterling, Trossard, Martinelli.
PSV received a considerable boost at the weekend as Peter Bosz welcomed Sergino Dest back into his matchday squad …
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