Ethan Nwaneri was totally fearless as Arsenal demolished PSV within the last-16 – and confirmed similarities to an ex-Liverpool star, writes DANNY MURPHY

Arsenal made Champions League historical past after beating PSV 7-1 of their conflict on Tuesday evening.

DANNY MURPHY appears at what went proper for the Gunners and the implications for his or her European marketing campaign.

ARTETA’S ATTITUDE

It felt like Mikel Arteta instructed his gamers to get after PSV. It was high-tempo, high-risk from the beginning. There was an actual urgency in Arsenal’s press, as in the event that they wanted to get targets shortly.

The strategy labored as a result of each participant was dialled in. Martin Odegaard triggered the press, as regular, and everybody adopted, notably the entrance three of Leandro Trossard, Mikel Merino and Ethan Nwaneri.

Having final weekend off due to the FA Cup did them good. It’s draining to play each few days having to win.

Any minor damage niggles disappeared. All of them appeared hungry with a degree to show. Declan Rice was nice, having fun with getting greater up the pitch.

FEARLESS NWANERI

I used to be at Liverpool when a 17-year-old Michael Owen burst by way of with this unbelievable self-belief that no defender may deal with him.

I’m getting the identical vibe with Nwaneri, who doesn’t look frightened of anyone. The larger the event, the higher he’s.

{The teenager} strikes effortlessly with the ball, has an amazing contact and modifications route to seek out area within the tightest of areas.

Many younger gamers have capability however to even have the mentality to play with freedom marks you out as particular. Arsenal are additionally helped by their centre backs. 

Gabriel and William Saliba are so good in particular person duels that team-mates can push up, realizing their defenders can cope with any turnovers.

PERFECT FODDER

If the Gunners may identify excellent opponents after failing to interrupt down West Ham and Nottingham Forest, it will have been PSV, who haven’t received a league recreation since January. The Dutch aspect tried to throw numbers ahead however that left areas to use.

The Gunners should have cherished it after dealing with groups who put everybody behind the ball.

Arsenal have been ruthless and so they didn’t relaxation on their laurels even after scoring 4 and 5.

LAST-EIGHT UNDERDOGS

It’s straightforward to imagine Arsenal are better-equipped for Europe than the Premier League however it’s not that straightforward. Whichever Madrid group they face within the quarters, Actual or Atletico, will current a far greater problem than PSV.

In some methods, Atletico are extra harmful due to their model; strategic and pragmatic. Actual don’t usually sit off — they’ve bought the most effective entrance gamers on this planet in Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior. 

Whereas that will swimsuit Arsenal, the sheer high quality of the Galacticos means Arteta can’t repeat the PSV recreation plan and count on the identical final result.

A full-strength Arsenal would discover it exhausting towards both group. Will probably be even more durable and not using a striker, as Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are out injured. 

Merino will enhance as a false 9, however despite the fact that he’s sufficient as a bodily presence, that received’t lower it within the latter levels of the competitors.

KEEP WITH THE PLAN

It may very well be one other season of near-misses for Arsenal however they’re in a great place. Too many accidents and suspensions will value them. They couldn’t have anticipated dropping Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Havertz and Jesus on the similar time.

Nonetheless, they’re near success, and deviating from the Arteta venture can be a mistake. The striker subject will likely be addressed in the summertime as a result of the squad is in any other case stronger than ever. The longer term is shiny however, regardless of their purpose bonanza on Tuesday evening, I don’t see a trophy come Might.