Arsenal have all but secured their place in the quarter-finals after beating PSV Eindhoven 7-1 in the Champions League round of 16 first-leg tie on Tuesday night.
The Gunners are already out of two domestic cup competitions, and they trail Liverpool by 13 points in the Premier League. The Champions League remains one of their best chances to win a trophy this season.
Arsenal scored three in the first half and four more after the break. Martin Odegaard scored twice, while Jurrien Timber, Ethan Nwaneri, Mikel Merino, Leandro Trossard and Riccardo Calafiori also got their names on the scoresheet.
Nwaneri was outstanding on the night, and Declan Rice was full of praise for the 17-year-old after the game.
Rice was impressed with Nwaneri’s fearless attitude and says the youngster works incredibly hard in training. The England midfielder has hailed him as a “top” talent.
“Top. He’s 17-years-old and he’s on the biggest stage,” said Rice. “We’ve taken them [youngsters] under our wing and they deserve to be playing. You should see them train they way they have no fear and want to perform.
“Even if [Bukayo] Saka was here Ethan would be still getting minutes because he’s that good and works so hard in training. Same with Myles despite having to come off for the yellow card tonight, we have so many top young players.”
Nwaneri has already made six starts in the Premier League this season, and a further 11 appearances have come from the bench. He has scored three goals in the league.
The youngster has also made six appearances in the Champions League, scoring two goals. With Arsenal missing Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus for the rest of the season, the door has been left ajar for young talents like Nwaneri to play regularly in the first team.
Arsenal will face Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday at Old Trafford.
