Arsenal Star To Miss Champions League Quarter Final Due To Suspension

Image credit: Getty Images

Arsenal secured their place in the Champions League quarter-finals, setting up a potential showdown with either Atletico Madrid or Real Madrid, after a 2-2 draw with PSV Eindhoven at the Emirates Stadium sealed a dominant 9-3 aggregate victory.

With last week’s emphatic 7-1 win in the first leg all but confirming their progression, Mikel Arteta opted to rotate his squad for the return fixture. His lineup featured several changes, including Kieran Tierney deployed as a left winger and Oleksandr Zinchenko operating in midfield.

Raheem Sterling, making a rare start, delivered an impressive performance by assisting both of Arsenal’s goals. The England international first played a clever pass to Zinchenko, who unleashed a stunning strike from outside the box to open the scoring. Later, Sterling provided a pinpoint cross for Declan Rice, who powered home a header to double the lead.

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PSV, however, refused to go down without a fight. Former Tottenham winger Ivan Perisic struck back in the first half with a composed finish, while Couhaib Driouech equalised in the second, lifting a delightful chip over David Raya.

Arsenal - Raheem Sterling — ***Raheem Sterling will miss Arsenal’s Champions League quarter-final due to suspension (Image credit: Getty Images)***

Despite Arsenal ’s dominance, they were unable to reclaim the lead, with Sterling twice denied by PSV goalkeeper Walter Benitez in one-on-one situations. The winger’s frustration deepened late in the game when he received a yellow card, ruling him out of the first leg of the quarter-finals due to suspension.

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Sterling had entered the match on two yellow cards in the competition, with UEFA’s suspension threshold not reset until after the quarter-finals. Arteta’s decision to hand him only his 10th start of the season in all competitions ultimately proved costly in that regard.

Arsenal will now await the outcome of the last-16 clash between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid to determine their next opponent. The Gunners will host their quarter-final first leg at the Emirates Stadium on April 8 or 9, following the international break.