European media react to PSV’s punishment at the hands of Arsenal: “It couldn’t be more painful” | OneFootball

PSV were dispatched 7-1 at home by Arsenal last night in their Champions League round of 16 first leg. While Arsenal, to their credit, took their chances clinically, it was truly a dismal affair for Peter Bosz and his helpless looking side, who set numerous negative records with this embarrassing thrashing at the Philips Stadion.

The Eindhoven club conceded more than five goals in a European competition game for the first time since September 1994 (5-4 v Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Cup) and for the first time ever at home in European football.

This drubbing also marked defeat in three consecutive games in all competitions for the first time since March-April 2014. After this, the fourth time in club history where they lost by a six-goal margin, the international media pulled no punches as they analysed what went wrong.

BILD called it a ‘hard Champions League blow for the former Dortmund coach’, which of course refers to one of Peter Bosz’s previous employers. The tabloid zooms in on the goal that made it 0-3, a ‘Slapstick Tor’, after a mistake by Ryan Flamingo. ‘The simplest mistakes gave Arsenal success. Bosz was left desperate.’

For Marca, ‘Arsenal scares Europe: 1-7!’, was the headline. ‘The Londoners left a mini-crisis behind them with this historic result in the Philips Stadium. Real Madrid or Atlético Madrid await in the quarter-finals.’ Diario AS saw an unrecognizable PSV. ‘There is nothing left of the team that knocked out Juventus in the intermediate round.’

Sporza spoke of an ‘unprecedented thrashing’ for PSV. ‘It can’t get more painful. Poor PSV, humiliated 1-7 in front of the eyes of Europe.’ In France, L’Équipe also looks at the victory of the Londoners with a different perspective. ‘Arsenal’s victory is good news for the coefficient list.’ The French, with Paris Saint-Germain and Lille still active in the Champions League, are fifth on that list. The Netherlands are sixth and follow at a respectable distance.

La Gazzetta dello Sport wonders how Juventus and Atalanta view the defeats of PSV and Club Brugge against Aston Villa (1-3). Both Italian clubs were eliminated in the intermediate round. ‘PSV and Brugge now concede ten goals in the round of 16. Who did you play against, Juve and Atalanta? Juve and Atalanta must have bitten their teeth in front of the TV, given the collapse of the Belgians and Dutch.’

GBeNeFN | Max Bradfield