Arsenal set up a Champions League quarter-final showdown with Real Madrid as a 2-2 draw with PSV Eindhoven at the Emirates Stadium sealed a 9-3 aggregate win.
Arsenal were made to wait to learn the identity of their last-eight opponent, but holders Real Madrid eventually triumphed over Atletico Madrid on penalties to join them in the last eight.
Mikel Arteta took the chance to rotate following last week’s 7-1 first-leg win, naming a much-changed side which included Kieran Tierney on the left wing and Oleksandr Zinchenko in midfield.
Raheem Sterling was also handed a rare start and set up both Arsenal goals in an eye-catching display, first turning the ball around the corner for Zinchenko, who finished superbly from outside the box for the early opener, then producing a pinpoint cross for Declan Rice to head home their second.
Twice, though, the Gunners were pegged back. Zinchenko’s opening goal was cancelled out by former Tottenham player Ivan Perisic, who finished coolly when put through in the first half, with Couhaib Driouech levelling again when he lifted a fine finish over David Raya in the second period.
Raya made several other saves to keep out PSV, who looked eager to prove a point following their first-leg humiliation, denying Driouech in the first half and twice pushing away shots by Isaac Babadi.
Oleksandr Zinchenko apologised to the travelling fans having spent time on loan at PSV earlier in his career
Arsenal had other chances too, two of which fell to Sterling, who was denied by PSV goalkeeper Walter Benitez when one-on-one on two separate occasions, and the winger suffered further frustration when he was shown a late yellow card which means he will be suspended for the quarter-final first leg.
Arsenal are 15 points behind leaders Liverpool in the Premier League, leaving the Champions League as their last hope of silverware, and will now have to overcome 15-time winners Real Madrid to keep their dream of clinching the trophy alive.
Arteta on reaching last eight: ‘We want to compete with the best clubs in the world’
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta on what his side have learnt from last year’s experience in the Champions League knockout stages:
“Well, the first thing we have learned is that you have to be at your best when it comes to that.
“For the two games, for every minute, don’t give anything away because they’re going to take it. And today we’ve seen for the two goals that we conceded as well.
“So, that’s a big lesson. And again, when it’s decided in the boxes, when the real talent, the real performance is crucial. And then creating an unbelievable atmosphere when we have the opportunity to play at home. That is crucial.”
On why it is important for Arsenal to be in the Champions last eight again, he added: “Why is it important? Because we want to win. And to win, you’re going to have to go through the stages. And because the club needs it.
“We are a club, a team that wants to be the best and wants to be competing with the best clubs in the world. And in order to do that, you have to constantly be there. And it’s very difficult. But we’ve done it for two years in a row. And we have the capacity and the ability to do it even better.”
Analysis: Sterling’s confidence returns in positive display
This tie was effectively over after the first leg but this was still a big game for Sterling. He needed a big performance after a dismal spell in which his confidence has appeared drained. He delivered it. This was, by a distance, his best display for Arsenal.
The winger had not scored or set up a goal in his previous 13 appearances but his self-belief grew from the moment he produced the clever pass to release his former Manchester City team-mate Zinchenko for the opener. He played with conviction and quality from then on.
Raheem Sterling had a one-on-one chance saved
His second assist came from a precise cross after beating his man and there were plenty more examples of smart touches, feints and bursts of pace. Not everything came off but at least he was trying. This was a significant improvement on recent displays.
His evening ended on a low note as he was booked, meaning he will be suspended for the first leg of the quarter-final, but there were no complaints from Arteta. “The way he tracked back when he got booked, that’s the kind of player we want to see,” he said.
On this evidence, and even though he will have to sit out that first leg, Sterling may still have a role to play for the final few months of what has been, until now, a difficult loan spell.
Sterling: It’s down to me to keep pushing
Arsenal forward Raheem Sterling:
“I should have had a goal, but it was nice to be out there and contribute. I tried to play my game and be dynamic.
“It was a decent performance [personally]. You’ve just got to wait for your moment. I’ve got to keep working and when my minutes come, I’ve got to take my [chance].
“I just need to be ready. It’s down to me to keep trying to push and [stay] in [Arteta’s] thought process.
“When you have a leader like we do in the manager, he’s got the boys in a tight-knit group. We have a top-club mentality.”
Zinchenko: Arsenal relishing Real Madrid test
Arsenal’s Oleksandr Zinchenko says he and his team-mates are relishing the opportunity to face Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
The Gunners set-up the last-eight showdown with the defending champions with a 2-2 draw against PSV on Wednesday night, completing a 9-3 aggregate win, while Real beat city rivals Atletico Madrid in a penalty shootout.
Arsenal have met the Spanish giants just once before in the Champions League, winning 1-0 in the Bernabeu in 2006 thanks to a Thierry Henry goal and then drawing 0-0 back at Highbury to knock Real out at the last-16 stage.
Thierry Henry scored the winner when Arsenal met Real Madrid in the Champions League in 2006
“It’s going to be an amazing experience for all of us, for the club,” said Zinchenko. “To face one of the best teams in the world with that much experience and world-class players it’s always nice to be involved in this, we’re all looking forward to it.
“In this competition, at this stage, you can’t be relaxed for one second, the level from all the teams is so high and they can punish you straight away.
“I think we have this experience already so let’s see how it goes.”
Zinchenko scored against former club PSV and said it was an important personal moment for him.
“For me it was special to play against this side, that place I really felt like I was home, how much love I received there. Even when I left PSV to [join Manchester] City I used to come back to the place to spend some days off so it was a special place for me, good memories.”
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