After watching his team deliver a record-breaking 7-1 victory over PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday night, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta quickly turned his attention to Sunday’s Premier League clash with Manchester United.
Despite failing to score in their previous two matches, the Gunners found their scoring touch in Eindhoven, setting a new club record for their largest-ever away win in the Champions League. Although Noah Lang pulled one back for PSV from the penalty spot, the heavy defeat marked one of the worst in the club’s 112-year history.
“It was a special night,” Arteta reflected. “It has given us a lot of joy, confidence, and belief. But in football, it’s not about what we did yesterday or today; it’s about what we do tomorrow.”
Looking ahead to Sunday’s trip to Old Trafford, Arteta emphasized the importance of maintaining their energy and focus in the historic Premier League rivalry. “We go to Old Trafford,” he warned. “How we behave, how we play, and whether we can win. That’s it. Enjoy tonight because it was an incredible performance and scoreline. We deserve it, but we’ll keep improving as a team.”
Arsenal made history on Tuesday by becoming the first away team in Champions League knockout stages to score seven goals. “It’s great to be part of that,” Arteta said briefly, before redirecting his attention to the team’s ultimate goal: titles. “The happiest I am is because we’re in a strong position to move on to the next round, which is where we want to be.”
For the fourth consecutive game, Arteta chose not to field a recognized striker, a strategy that had seen mixed results with wins against Leicester City, a loss to West Ham United, and a 0-0 draw with Nottingham Forest. Reflecting on the unpredictability of Tuesday’s match, he said, “That’s the beauty of it. Nobody could have predicted a 7-1 scoreline. That’s what makes football so special.”
