Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia
United Arab Emirates

Arsenalvs.PSV

sportsmole.co.uk, 11 March 2025, 12:38
Arsenal winger Ethan Nwaneri could achieve an unprecedented Champions League feat when the Gunners host PSV Eindhoven in Wednesday's last-16 second leg.

The 17-year-old was among the scorers in Arsenal's Philips Stadion slaughter last week, as Mikel Arteta's men annihilated the Rood-Witten 7-1 to put one foot firmly in the quarter-finals.

Nwaneri had also found the back of the net during the Gunners' final league-phase win, a 2-1 triumph over Girona, and he is already the youngest player to score in successive Champions League games.

The Hale End product did not enjoy his finest hour against Manchester United at the weekend, coming off in the 58th minute of that 1-1 draw, and there is a good chance that Arteta could demote him from the first XI on Wednesday with the tie all but wrapped up.

However, should Nwaneri play and score on Wednesday, he would become the youngest man to find the back of the net in three straight Champions League games, and the first to do so before turning 18.

Nwaneri could break Kylian Mbappe record in PSV clash

The current youngest player to score in three successive Champions League appearances is Kylian Mbappe, who did so four times in a row in the 2016-17 campaign for Monaco, twice against Manchester City and twice against Borussia Dortmund.

The Frenchman was 18 years and 113 days when he netted in three top-level European games on the bounce, but Nwaneri will be 17 years and 349 days on Wednesday; the England Under-19 international celebrates his 18th birthday on March 21.

With Bukayo Saka still out until after the international break on account of his hamstring injury, Nwaneri has filled the void in impressive fashion with eight goals from 28 games in all tournaments this season.

However, Arteta now has Gabriel Martinelli available to him once again after the Brazilian made an unexpectedly quick return from a hamstring injury over the weekend, although he is one yellow card away from a Champions League ban.

Raheem Sterling is in the exact same boat but could still start in a rotated team anyway, as the Chelsea loanee would almost certainly not be starting the first leg of a quarter-final with either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid.

Arsenal can equal Man City feat in Champions League

In addition to Nwaneri potentially breaking Mbappe's record, Arsenal are bidding to join Premier League rivals Manchester City in an exclusive Champions League club on Wednesday evening.

If Arteta's men score at least another three goals, they will become just the second English team to register 10 goals across two legs of a Champions League knockout tie after Pep Guardiola's side.

Arteta's erstwhile employers managed that extraordinary feat against Schalke 04 in the last 16 of the 2018-19 competition, edging a close contest 3-2 in the first leg before a 7-0 second-leg thrashing at the Etihad.

The Gunners boss confirmed in his pre-game press conference that he expects to have an identical squad available from the weekend's draw at Old Trafford, while also declaring Ben White fit to start after his recent return from knee surgery.

The Englishman is a strong candidate to come into the starting lineup on Wednesday, as Jurrien Timber will also miss the first leg of the quarter-finals if he is cautioned against PSV.

Written by

Ben Knapton

Show more

Top News

23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Georgia vs. Armenia (Sunday, 2.00pm) Battling for a place in League B of the UEFA Nations League, Georgia are set to host Armenia at the Boris Paichadze Stadium for the second leg of their playoff on Sunday. 23 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are said to be locked in a battle for Ajax defender Jorrel Hato with the likes of Real Madrid, Arsenal and Chelsea. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly decided to target Stuttgart midfielder Enzo Millot in the summer transfer window. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Peru can leapfrog Venezuela for eighth in CONMEBOL World Cup 2026 qualifying on Tuesday when they travel to Estadio Monumental de Maturin on matchday 14. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly reluctant to extend Diogo Jota's deal at Anfield and are said to be growing increasingly frustrated by the forward. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo has told Rasmus Hojlund he aims to celebrate in front of the Denmark striker in Sunday's crunch Nations League tie. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna has received a boost as Wolverhampton Wanderers' Matheus Cunha's ban has been extended to four games, meaning he will miss his side's next two fixtures. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Everton Women star Rikke Madsen won't forget her team's 3-0 win over Crystal Palace any time soon. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo is the most lethal goalscorer in history - but Lionel Messi edges him in the never-ending 'greatest of all time' debate. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool may have one hand firmly on the Premier League trophy, but more recent matches have shown that the Reds board cannot rest on their laurels during the summer transfer window. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk After a disappointing start to World Cup qualifying, Romania will look to get their campaign up and running when they visit Serravalle to face minnows San Marino on Monday night. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Two nations who made the perfect start to World Cup qualifying meet in Zenica on Monday night when Bosnia-Herzegovina host Cyprus. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly among three Premier League teams to have taken an interest in signing Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney this summer. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly received a significant boost in their efforts to sign Rayan Cherki, whom Lyon have decided to sell in the summer transfer window. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has reportedly made a final decision on whether he plans to re-integrate Marcus Rashford into his squad this summer. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Manchester United have been told to seek wisdom from darts sensation Luke Littler over how to handle high-pressure situations. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Peter Crouch has scored his first goals for Liverpool in nearly 17 years and he made sure to celebrate accordingly. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool's reported capacity to purchase a new striker in the summer transfer window is in excess of £100m due to their good financial health. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Newcastle United will have a special Carabao Cup trophy parade next weekend after ending 70 years of hurt. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Newcastle United will finally get their trophy-winning party in front the Toon Army. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are set to be active during this summer's transfer window, as the recently-appointed Ruben Amorim looks to bring in players capable of thriving in his 3-4-3 system. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate reportedly has no release clause in his current contract amidst interest from Real Madrid in his signature. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona are facing a centre-back crisis for their La Liga match against Osasuna next week, with Inigo Martinez, Pau Cubarsi, Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen potentially all missing the rescheduled fixture. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Another consolation silver medal is waiting for Arsenal at the 2024-25 Premier League finish line, as Mikel Arteta and co bemoan injuries, suspensions and fatal - yet avoidable - transfer mistakes. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly begun initial talks with Napoli over the possible transfer of Rasmus Hojlund to the Serie A club in the summer transfer window. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are expected to move for at least one central midfielder during this summer's transfer window. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Twelve years may have passed, but Franck Ribery is still not over his 2013 Ballon d'Or snub. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Chelsea are not familiar with quiet summer transfer windows and as it stands, there's no sign of bucking the trend in 2025. 22 March 2025 talksport.com Walsall boss Mat Sadler claimed the decision not to request a postponement this afternoon was 'out of' the club's hands. 22 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona would reportedly be willing to let Raphinha leave during this summer's transfer window if an offer of €120m (£101m) were to arrive, with Manchester United said to be keen to sign the attacker.