LONDON COLNEY, ENGLAND - MARCH 03: (L-R) Nathan Butler-Oyedeji and Ben White of Arsenal during a training session before the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 match between PSV Eindhoven and Arsenal at Sobha Realty Training Centre on March 03, 2025 in London Colney, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) (I
Arsenal stunned the footballing world when they managed to score seven goals against PSV Eindhoven in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League last 16 clash. Martin Odegaard’s brace headlined a performance that no one was expecting.
It effectively hands the Gunners early passage through to the quarter-finals of the competition, where they will face either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid. The decision of who will be decided in the Spanish capital at the Wanda Metrapolitano with Los Blancos taking a 2-1 lead to their bitter rivals’ ground.
For Arsenal, PSV will visit the Emirates Stadium next week, looking to overturn a six-goal deficit, which gives Mikel Arteta an opportunity to rotate some key players and keep the momentum up. It is not just about rest, but also about having those fringe players or recovering players gaining valuable time on the field to be able to effectively contribute in the final two-plus months of the season.
Ben White
Having returned from a long-term lay-off following a procedure to correct a persistent issue with his knee, Ben White has begun making some cameos from the bench in the past few games. With the pressure off for the arrival of PSV, this is the perfect chance to test the England international’s fitness.
Jurrien Timber was excellent against PSV and the defender will be planning to keep that spot his. Yet, White offers more natural overlapping potential to the right-hand side and will be a useful weapon for Arteta in the final weeks of the season.
Jakub Kiwior
The Polish international has not played any football since January when he started in Arsenal’s last dead-rubber match with Girona in the Champions League. He has been an unused substitute in 12 Premier League matches, with Mikel Arteta looking instead to players like Kieran Tierney and Oleksandr Zinchenko to provide some differences from the bench.