Arsenal are all-but through to the Champions League quarter-finals after running out 7-1 winners away at PSV Eindhoven in their last-16 first leg on Tuesday night.
Jurrien Timber, Ethan Nwaneri and Mikel Merino all scored for Arsenal in the opening 45 minutes at the Philips Stadion.
PSV pulled one back through Noa Lang’s 43rd-minute penalty, but it proved to be the merest of consolations in the end.
Arsenal were to run riot in the second half as Martin Odegaard and Leandro Trossard both struck in the first few minutes after the restart.
Odegaard then added a sixth in the 73rd minute before Riccardo Calafiori made it 7-1 in the 85th minute of the match.
But while Arsenal had six different goalscorers on the night, Gunners fans were especially pleased with one player who didn’t get on the scoresheet.
Arsenal fans blown away by Declan Rice performance at PSV
The player in question in Declan Rice, who delivered an impressive performance as Arsenal’s No. 6 in the Champions League clash.
“Declan Rice has been unstoppable tonight,” one fan wrote on X. “He’s brought so much energy and drive to Arsenal’s play.
“This might just be his best performance of the season so far. What a player!”
Another said: “Rice’s best match all season, IMO. Just an immense performance, so full of effort.”
The praise for Rice kept coming, with one fan saying: “Declan Rice with one of, if not his best performance in an Arsenal shirt.”
Another fan said: “Declan Rice back to his best tonight, all over the park, been struggling for form, hopefully kicks on.”
Another said: “Declan Rice – GENERAL. In a game with many standout performances, Rice was on another level.”
“Just continues to evolve, does everything for the team. An absolute monster in the middle of the park, our best signing in years. If you don’t rate him, football isn’t for you.”
How Declan Rice fared against PSV
Rice delivered a masterclass against PSV as he ran tirelessly up and down the pitch, making the most of the opposition’s gaps in the midfield.
The England international created the opening goal with a neat turn and cross that found Timber, one of three accurate crosses he made in the game.
| Declan Rice stats v PSV | |
| Assists | 1 |
| Touches | 50 |
| Accurate passes | 32/36 (89%) |
| Key passes | 2 |
| Crosses (acc.) | 3 (3) |
| Long balls (acc.) | 1 (1) |
| Big chances created | 2 |
| Shots on target | 0 |
| Shots off target | 1 |
| Dribble attempts (succ.) | 1 (1) |
| Ground duels (won) | 3 (1) |
| Aerial duels (won) | 2 (1) |
| Clearances | 3 |
| Interceptions | 1 |
Rice created two big chances, completed one dribble, and also chipped in with three clearances and one interception.
Arsenal welcome PSV in the return fixture at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday 12 March, kick-off 8pm.
The Gunners are in Premier League before then, heading to Manchester United on Sunday 9 March.
