The Gunners failed to score in the previous two Premier League games, and there were doubts whether they could find the net at the PSV Stadion.
Mikel Arteta’s side perfectly answered their critics with seven goals on the road.
Riccardo Calafiori started the game on the bench but came on for Myles Lewis-Skelly in just the 35th minute.
Lewis-Skelly was very fortunate to avoid a sending-off against PSV. Arteta made the right decision to replace him.
Calafiori had a nervous start, but he was exceptional after the interval.
The Italian provided a quality assist for Leandro Trossard in the 48th minute after some lovely link-up play between them.
He capped the performance with a late goal. The left-back scored with a perfect right-footed finish, making it 7-1.
Arsenal’s 7-1 rout of PSV on the road is now the biggest away win in Champions League knock-out history.
Calafiori also did something special with his goal contributions off the bench for the Gunners.
He became the first substitute defender to register a goal and an assist in a Champions League game since 2003/04.
The £37 million-rated star has been in and out of the starting line-up with the emergence of Lewis-Skelly.
He has still stepped up with stand-out performances. Calafiori scored a vital goal against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League earlier this year.
The former Bologna man was likewise exceptional yesterday. Lewis-Skelly’s breakthrough has probably been a blessing in disguise for Calafiori as well.
Calafiori had injury troubles at the start of the campaign. With a reduced workload, he has found more consistency in his overall performances.
With competition from Lewis-Skelly, Calafiori has upped his game, knowing that he is not an assured starter unless he can perform at a high level.
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