Arsenal's Oleksandr Zinchenko scored early and helped his team secure passage to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League, finishing their two-legged round of 16 clash against PSV Eindhoven with a 9:3 aggregate score.
On March 12, 2025, at the Emirates Stadium, the match opened dramatically as Zinchenko found the net just six minutes after kickoff. The Ukrainian left-back capitalized on the pass from teammate Raheem Sterling and delivered a powerful shot from outside the penalty area, placing the ball neatly inside the left corner of the goal.
Remarkably, this was Zinchenko's first productive action of the season, marking his first goal for Arsenal since November 11, 2023, when he scored against Burnley in the Premier League. Despite finding the scoreboard, he chose not to celebrate, showing respect for PSV, where he previously played.
Arsenal’s lead was short-lived. PSV equalized just minutes later, with veteran Ivan Perisic managing to score after receiving assistance from Gus Til. Yet, the Gunners regained their advantage before halftime; Declan Rice struck back with another goal, bringing the score to 2:1.
The second half saw PSV refuse to back down. Kuheb Driuish netted the equalizer during the 70th minute, ending the match at 2:2. Although the match itself was tied, Arsenal's massive first-leg victory of 7:1 meant they progressed comfortably to the quarter-finals of the tournament.
Reflecting on the victory, Zinchenko expressed contentment, stating, "The most important thing is we moved forward, and now I look forward to the next match. It was special to play against my old team - I really loved this club and got a warm reception when I was there. I told Edegor and Rice, now I understand how much they run. This is the demands at this level. Any team can punish you at this Champions League level. At this stage, every opponent is world-class. I just can’t wait for the next matches.”
Now, Arsenal will prepare for their next challenge, facing the winner of the matchup between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid. Their confidence boosted by the recent victory and the return of their star players, including Zinchenko, the Gunners aim to continue their impressive campaign.
Overall, the match against PSV highlighted the resilience and depth of Mikel Arteta's squad, with Zinchenko’s contribution reaffirming his capability and importance to the team. Arsenal fans will be hoping this momentum will carry through as they chase both domestic and European glory this season.