Arsenal’s teenage sensation Ethan Nwaneri made history on Wednesday night as he became the third-youngest player to score in a Champions League knockout stage match. The 17-year-old wonderkid found the net in Arsenal’s emphatic 7-1 demolition of PSV Eindhoven, cementing his place among Europe’s brightest young stars.
Nwaneri, who has been making waves in Arsenal’s first team this season, delivered a clinical first-time finish from a pinpoint cross by fellow Hale End graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly. His goal, Arsenal’s second of the night, added to what has already been a breakthrough campaign under manager Mikel Arteta. The young midfielder has continued to step up for the Gunners in crucial moments, especially with key players missing due to injuries.
At just 17 years and 348 days old, Nwaneri now ranks behind only Bojan Krkić, who scored at 17 years and 217 days, and Jude Bellingham, who found the net at 17 years and 289 days, as the youngest players to ever score in the Champions League knockout rounds. His record-breaking strike also saw him surpass Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala, who achieved a similar feat at 17 years and 363 days.
The historic goal was not just a personal milestone for Nwaneri but also a groundbreaking moment for English football. It marked the first time in Champions League history that two English teenagers had combined for a goal in the competition. Arsenal’s ability to nurture and develop young talent was on full display, with Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri proving instrumental in the club’s dominant display.
Arsenal’s performance against PSV was one of their most commanding European displays in recent years. The Gunners wasted no time asserting their dominance, dismantling their Dutch opponents with relentless attacking play. Club captain Martin Ødegaard led by example with two well-taken goals, while other scorers on the night included Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Leandro Trossard. The sheer quality of Arsenal’s attacking football left PSV helpless as the North London club secured an unassailable advantage heading into the second leg.
The result also saw Arsenal break multiple Champions League records. They became the first team in history to score seven goals away from home in a knockout-stage match. They also set a new milestone by having six different players score in the same away leg of a Champions League tie. Their ruthlessness in front of goal was evident, as they netted five goals within just 48 minutes, making them the fastest team to reach such a tally in an away knockout match. Additionally, this victory marked Arsenal’s fifth consecutive Champions League win in a single tournament for the first time since their run to the final in 2005-06.
Following the match, Martin Ødegaard was full of praise for Arsenal’s emerging young stars, emphasizing their confidence and maturity on the pitch. The Norwegian midfielder highlighted the impact of the club’s rising talents and their ability to deliver in high-stakes matches. “They play like they’ve been here for many years already. They have so much quality, so much confidence. You have to enjoy it,” Ødegaard said after the game.
With a comfortable advantage from the first leg, Arsenal now has one foot in the quarter-finals, where they are likely to face either Real Madrid or Atlético Madrid. This victory not only boosts their confidence but also sends a clear message to the rest of Europe that they are serious contenders in this year’s Champions League.
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