DAVID RAYA HAD NOTHING TO DO AT EVERTON ON SUNDAY AND WAS BARELY TESTED BY PSV IN THE 4-0 WIN FOR ARSENAL OVER PSV EINDHOVEN.
It was a very comfortable win for the Gunners.
It appeared as though they were catching up.
The Champions League music and a big night under the floodlights brought out the best in Mikel Arteta’s team, who hadn’t competed in Europe’s premier competition since the 2016–17 campaign.
Arsenal’s new generation appears prepared to take on a new challenge as Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard scored on their respective league debuts.
Arsenal undoubtedly has the firepower to inflict some damage this season, and Gabriel Jesus is an experienced Champions League scorer with his 21st goal in the competition.
The Arsenal captain, who is in prime form, then added a 20-yard screamer to complete the rout. It was a very easy game for the Gunners, and David Raya had another one.
Raya had nothing to do against Everton on Sunday, saw little action against PSV, and now it appears that he will start the North London derby this weekend instead of Aaron Ramsdale.
However, if that was the topic of conversation prior to the game, it was quickly forgotten because that is how football works.
As soon as you win a game, feelings of affection and allegiance disappear.
Although Arteta is a cruel manager who makes cruel decisions, the crowd sang his name throughout the game because they appreciate what he has accomplished at the Emirates.
Even though they had a habit of exiting at the last 16 stage each year, Arsenal was a regular in the Champions League under Arsene Wenger.
Though Saka, who was recently named England’s player of the year at the age of 22, has never participated in the competition, it is amazing to think that this team is capable of going further.
Regularly competing against Europe’s top teams will only help Saka learn and develop, and Trossard also seems like the perfect fit with his pace, movement, and goal threat.
PSV was completely outclassed by Arsenal, and they should breeze through Group B with ease now that they are also expected to be far superior to Sevilla and Lens, their other opponents.
Declan Rice also had a big night because the £105 million summer acquisition from Arsenal was made for these moments and the England midfielder contributed to the game’s first goal in the eighth minute.
Rice’s fierce shot was spilled by PSV goalkeeper Walter Benitez, and Saka was there to seize the opportunity and score from close range on the rebound.
Even before Arsenal scored their second goal after 20 minutes, Jesus squandered a golden opportunity.
Jesus initiated the attack from midfield, and Saka’s lovely cross-field pass found Trossard on the edge of the box, where the Belgium star swept the ball into the far corner.
It was a beautiful goal and representative of how Arsenal usually plays: with a lot of style, quick passing, and movement.
They have easily reacquainted themselves with Champions League soccer.
After 38 minutes, the match was essentially over.
After Trossard was set free by Arsenal defender Gabriel’s pass over the top, down the left, his cross found Jesus, who had time to control the ball and then fire a shot into the top corner.
As the game progressed, Arteta was able to make substitutions and give players breaks as Arsenal made it look so simple, with Emile Smith Rowe receiving a standing ovation when he entered.
Before Odegaard took the initiative, dribbled across the box, and then unleashed a low shot that flew into the bottom corner to round it out, Smith Rowe was involved in the buildup for the fourth goal.
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