When Arsenal visited Philips Stadion on March 4, 2025, few predicted the scale of the rout that followed. The Gunners demolished PSV Eindhoven 7-1 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie—a result that effectively settled the tie before the teams even met again in London a week later.
Date: March 4, 2025 ·
Competition: UEFA Champions League ·
First Leg Result: PSV 1-7 Arsenal ·
Venue: Philips Stadion, Eindhoven
Quick snapshot
- First leg: PSV 1-7 Arsenal (Sky Sports match page)
- Aggregate: Arsenal 9-3 PSV advanced to quarterfinals (ESPN match report)
- 34,400 attendance at Philips Stadion (Sky Sports match page)
- Full substitution timings for both legs
- Post-match manager quotes
- Detailed player ratings and performance stats
- PSV eliminated Juventus 4-3 agg in February 2025 (Mad About EPL match preview)
- Second leg: March 12, 2025 at Emirates Stadium (Sky Sports match page)
- Arsenal face quarterfinal opponents in draw (ESPN match report)
- Gunners 13 points behind Liverpool in Premier League (Sports Illustrated preview)
| Key Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Competition | UEFA Champions League Round of 16 |
| First Leg Date | March 4, 2025 |
| Second Leg Date | March 12, 2025 |
| First Leg Venue | Philips Stadion, Eindhoven |
| Second Leg Venue | Emirates Stadium, London |
| First Leg Score | PSV 1-7 Arsenal |
| Second Leg Score | Arsenal 2-2 PSV |
| Aggregate Score | Arsenal 9-3 PSV |
| Arsenal Result | Advanced to quarterfinals |
| PSV Goalkeeper | Benítez |
| Arsenal Key Midfielder | Ødegaard (2 goals in first leg) |
PSV Eindhoven vs Arsenal Lineups
The official lineups from the first leg on March 4, 2025, showed Arsenal’s clinical efficiency against a PSV side that had just eliminated Juventus from the competition. Here’s how the teams lined up at Philips Stadion.
Arsenal Starting Lineup
Arsenal’s starting XI for the first leg against PSV featured David Raya in goal behind a back four of Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, and Lewis-Skelly (Sky Sports confirmed lineup). The attacking line saw Ødegaard, Nwaneri, and Trossard feature prominently, with the captain delivering a brace to underline his importance to the side.
PSV Starting Lineup
PSV lined up with Benítez as goalkeeper, protected by defenders Ledezma, Flamingo, Boscagli, and Malacia (Sky Sports confirmed lineup). Luuk de Jong captained the side from the front, supported by Lang, Saibari, and Til in midfield.
Who is PSV?
PSV Eindhoven is a professional football club based in Eindhoven, Netherlands—not Germany, despite the team’s occasionally confused international profile. The club was founded in 1913 and plays its home matches at Philips Stadion, a venue that hosted 34,400 spectators for the Arsenal match.
PSV History
PSV has been one of the Netherlands’ most successful clubs, winning the Eredivisie title 24 times and reaching the European Cup final in 1988, where they defeated Benfica in Stuttgart. That historic triumph remains the club’s greatest achievement on the continental stage.
PSV in UEFA Champions League
Prior to facing Arsenal, PSV navigated a challenging playoff tie against Juventus, winning 4-3 on aggregate to reach the Round of 16 (Mad About EPL match preview). However, the Dutch side had previously faced Arsenal in the 2023-24 season, losing 4-0 at the Emirates and drawing 1-1 in Eindhoven.
How to Watch PSV vs Arsenal
For UK viewers, the Champions League matches were broadcast through TNT Sports and Sky Sports coverage. Kickoff for the first leg was scheduled for 20:00 BST, with referee Jesús Gil Manzano from Spain officiating the match.
TV Channels
The fixtures were included in standard Champions League broadcast packages through TNT Sports for UK audiences (And It’s Arsenal broadcast guide). International viewers could access matches through their regional UEFA broadcast partners.
Streaming Options
Beyond traditional television coverage, Champions League matches were available through various streaming platforms connected to the primary broadcast rights holders. Official UEFA platforms also provided match centers with live statistics and lineup confirmations.
Access to official UEFA lineup data through their match center provides the most authoritative source for confirmed starting XI and substitution information.
Who Are the Lineups for Arsenal?
Arsenal’s squad for the PSV tie came into focus with several injury concerns affecting selection. Before the second leg, the Gunners were managing absences including Kai Havertz (hamstring surgery), Bukayo Saka (hamstring), Gabriel Jesus (ACL surgery), and Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee surgery) (And It’s Arsenal team news).
Confirmed Starters
The confirmed Arsenal starting lineup for the first leg at Philips Stadion featured Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, and Lewis-Skelly (UEFA official match center). Manager Mikel Arteta had Myles Lewis-Skelly available after serving a suspension earlier in the competition.
Key Substitutes
Pre-match predictions from Pain in the Arsenal preview had suggested Calafiori at left-back, but Lewis-Skelly’s availability meant the young defender started instead. Pre-match predictions also differed on the midfield composition, with Merino featuring rather than the predicted Partey and Rice combination.
Arsenal’s injury list before the second leg was severe, yet the first-leg margin of victory gave Arteta flexibility to manage player workloads in the return fixture.
Which Team is Favored to Win?
The betting odds before the second leg heavily favored Arsenal to advance, with the Gunners installed at 17/40, draw at 7/2, and PSV at 6/1 (And It’s Arsenal betting preview). After the 7-1 first-leg result, the aggregate outcome was effectively sealed.
Odds and Predictions
Sports Illustrated had predicted a 4-3-3 formation for Arsenal in the second leg (Sports Illustrated second leg preview), though pre-match predictions varied across sources on the exact XI. The second leg ended 2-2, confirming Arsenal’s overwhelming aggregate superiority. For those interested in the specific details of the match, you can find the PSV Eindhoven vs Arsenal F.C. Lineups here. PSV Eindhoven vs Arsenal F.C. Lineups
Head-to-Head
The historical record between these clubs showed Arsenal’s dominance in recent encounters: a 4-0 victory on September 20, 2023, followed by a 1-1 draw on December 12, 2023 (And It’s Arsenal head-to-head record). The 9-3 aggregate in March 2025 represents the most emphatic result in this fixture.
Upsides
- Arsenal scored 9 goals across two legs against a side that eliminated Juventus
- Ødegaard demonstrated his importance with a brace in the first leg
- Emirates Stadium attendance reached 59,410 for the second leg (Sky Sports second leg match page)
- Advanced to quarterfinals with minimal squad depletion
Downsides
- Significant injuries remain: Havertz, Saka, Jesus, Tomiyasu all unavailable
- PSV’s two away goals came at inopportune moments in the second leg
- Premier League title challenge effectively ended (13 points behind Liverpool)
- Second leg defensive vulnerabilities allowed PSV to score twice
Arsenal eased into the quarterfinals of the Champions League with a 9-3 aggregate victory over PSV Eindhoven after a 2-2 draw.
A record-breaking 7-1 victory should allow supporters to enjoy a stress-free Wednesday evening.
The two-leg tie against PSV ultimately served as a statement of intent from Arsenal in the Champions League. While the Premier League title race had slipped beyond reach by the time of the second leg, the Gunners’ clinical European performances—including that stunning 7-1 first-leg victory—demonstrated their capability to compete at the highest level against established continental powers.
What does PSV stand for?
PSV stands for Philips Sport Vereniging, named after the Dutch electronics company that founded and has historically owned the club based in Eindhoven, Netherlands.
Is PSV a German team?
No, PSV is a Dutch football club from Eindhoven, Netherlands. Despite Eindhoven’s proximity to the German border, PSV competes in the Dutch Eredivisie and represents the Netherlands in European competitions.
What channel to watch Arsenal games on?
In the UK, Arsenal’s Champions League matches have been broadcast on TNT Sports and Sky Sports as part of the main UEFA competition rights package.
Who lost 6-1?
PSV lost 7-1 to Arsenal in the first leg on March 4, 2025—worse than a 6-1 defeat. The result was described as record-breaking and stunning by multiple football publications.
Where to watch PSV Eindhoven vs Arsenal FC?
The fixtures were available through UEFA’s official broadcast partners in each region. In the UK, TNT Sports and Sky Sports held the rights, with streaming available through their respective platforms.
What were the PSV vs Arsenal lineups stats?
The first leg ended 7-1 to Arsenal with scorers including Timber (18′), Nwaneri (21′), Merino (31′), Ødegaard (47′, 73′), Trossard (48′), and Calafiori (85′). Lang scored for PSV via penalty at 43′ (Sky Sports goal scorers).
PSV vs Arsenal Sky Sports coverage
Sky Sports provided comprehensive coverage of both legs, including official confirmed lineups, match statistics, goal scorers with timestamps, and attendance figures for both Philips Stadion and Emirates Stadium.
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Arsenal’s lineups powered their stunning 7-1 victory over PSV Eindhoven, where the comprehensive match statisticscomprehensive match statistics reveal dominance in goals and possession.