Thierry Henry was amazed by the impressive 7-1 victory of Arsenal over PSV Eindhoven in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 and took the opportunity to make an optimistic prediction about his former club’s future in the competition. Despite missing several key players in their attack, Arsenal demonstrated great efficiency and high-level collective play, allowing them to take a strong step toward the quarterfinals.

Led by Mikel Arteta, the team faced this match without their star striker, Gabriel Jesus, or Kai Havertz, who won’t return until next season, and with Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli unavailable until April. Despite these setbacks, Arteta found a way to reorganize his attack, relying on Mikel Merino as a false nine, and the result was overwhelming. The Gunners had no trouble thrashing PSV Eindhoven at the Phillips Stadion.

The star of the match was Martin Ødegaard, who shone with 2 goals and 1 assist, once again demonstrating his importance to the team. Additionally, Arsenal was highly effective in attack and solid in defense, allowing the Londoners not only to secure a massive victory but also to set a record in the competition. Thierry Henry, as an expert and former club idol, did not hesitate to praise his former team's performance, acknowledging that despite how difficult the match could have been, the Gunners made it seem easy.

Looking ahead: Real Madrid or Atlético Madrid

Thierry Henry also expressed great optimism about Arsenal's chances in the Champions League, despite the clear disadvantage they face in the Premier League, where the title race seems to be slipping away from them. "I think they played an exceptional game, as the result shows," commented the former striker. However, Henry also made it clear that the true test for Arsenal will come in the upcoming Round of 16, where they could face one of the Madrid clubs: Real Madrid or Atlético Madrid.

Henry’s optimism is evident, as he believes Arsenal has what it takes to overcome these top-level teams. "Yes, they can win. I really believe that," the Frenchman assured. Arteta will soon be able to rely on the return of Saka and Martinelli, which will further strengthen his attack for the next challenge. However, Henry also made a call to action, urging Arsenal's players to prove their capabilities against teams of a much higher caliber than PSV Eindhoven.