LISTEN NOW: It's All Kicking Off! With the Premier League likely securing five Champions League spots, are we rewarding mediocrity?
By MATT BARLOW
Published: 17:52 EDT, 12 March 2025 | Updated: 17:52 EDT, 12 March 2025
Arsenal's progress to the quarter-final of the Champions League was never in any doubt after their 7-1 drubbing of PSV in the first leg last week.
But even the most pessimistic of Gunners fans were able to enjoy a stress-free night at the Emirates when Oleksandr Zinchenko broke the deadlock after only six minutes.
The Ukrainian opted against celebrating against the side he represented 12 times while on loan from Manchester City during the 2016-17 season. Oddly, the same was true for Ivan Perisic.
The former Tottenham winger restored parity on the night just 12 minutes later and, seemingly unaware of the six goals that separated the sides, promptly fetched the ball from the goal to get proceedings back underway.
However, it was the home side who grabbed the next goal on an entertaining night in north London. Declan Rice nodded in from close range to nab his second goal in a week.
To the credit of Peter Bosz's men, who were determined to go out of the competition on a high, they found a second equaliser in the 70th minute through Couhaib Driouech. More to follow.