Arsenal eased their way into the Champions League quarter-finals with a 2-2 draw against PSV Eindhoven that secured a 9-3 win on aggregate.
Oleksandr Zinchenko gave the Gunners an early lead with a fine effort from the edge of the box and Declan Rice restored the advantage with a header before half time after Ivan Perisic had grabbed an equaliser.
Mikel Arteta’s players should have seen things out from there but they were pegged back by Couhaib Driouech’s lob with 20 minutes remaining.
Raheem Sterling, who laid on both goals for his side, had a chance to win the match at the death but he was denied by Walter Benitez and then received a booking that rules him out of the first-leg of a mouthwatering clash with Real Madrid.
“We started well and scored a goal, we were ahead twice, but unfortunately we didn’t manage to win,” Arteta told TNT Sports.
“You could see in the second half that we looked tired, we were late for a few things. We lacked a bit of cohesion, it’s true we made so many changes and you expect that to happen. We’re all happy because we are where we want to be.”
On the decision to rotate heavily, Arteta added: “We played a lot of games, those players are going to play a lot of games, they have international football as well, and there were some players that deserve some football as well because they are a big part of us.
“I’m very happy that I gave them the chance.”
At one point, half of Arsenal’s outfield was made up of players who’ve played most of their football at left-back – Jakub Kiwior, Riccardo Calafiori, Kieran Tierney, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Zinchenko.
In his post-game press conference, the boss was pleased that the latter made a scoring impact covering for Martin Odegaard in the number 10 position.
“I think Alex’s finish was great. He’s got this ability to carry the ball and those spaces to put the ball in the back of the net.
“We’re really happy because we find another solution as well to fit his qualities and what the team is demanding at the moment. So, really good to have him in that condition.
As for Lewis-Skelly, who ended the game in midfield having started in defence, he added: “He can play in both positions. And in relation to the player that he plays as a full-back as well, he can interact and change positions.
“He played as a six. He was developed in the academy as a six as well. What he’s doing this season, it’s something new for him. He’s much more suited to play in midfield.
“He’s done really well tonight as well. I think he was very consistent in his actions. And I’m really happy about it as well.”
The boss was also pleased for Sterling, who received Uefa’s player of the match award despite squandering a couple of gilt-edged chances.
“Yeah, I was very happy for him and for a lot of individuals as well that they haven’t had a lot of minutes recently,” said Arteta.
“You could tell in the second half that we lacked the physical capabilities to make certain efforts and arrive to certain spaces at the right time. But overall, very happy that they got the minutes and they responded.”
Arsenal had to wait a while before finding out their opponents in the next round with Real Madrid overcoming neighbours Atletico in a contentious penalty shootout.
Real will visit Arsenal in the first leg before the Gunners travel to the Bernabeu for the first time since 2006. Arsene Wenger’s side made the final that year – a positive omen.
