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Arsenal clicked through the gears against PSV, but now the club can't let its foot off the gas against Manchester United.
Arsenal's 7-1 win over PSV was just what the doctor ordered for Mikel Arteta's team as the goal-scoring issues that have been well documented were forgotten.
The Gunners were superb on the road, slamming home three goals in the first 30 minutes to set the tone for the contest and Arteta's side didn't look back.
In total, the Gunners had 15 shots and eight were on target, and considering seven goals were scored, as Arteta stated post-game, it was all about execution and the Gunners executed to perfection.
The performance was a far cry from what we've seen over the past fortnight and it does give confidence not only to the players, but also the fans that maybe, just maybe that this makeshift frontline can work.
Arsenal must maintain the rage against United
Of course, it is only one game, and the proof will be in the pudding for Arsenal to see if what it dished up against PSV is sustainable or if it was an outlier against a team considered less than.
But regardless, the most important thing now for the Gunners is to not go backward against Manchester United in the Premier League at the weekend.
"We just have to take this confidence to the next game, not just the Champions League but on Sunday, a beautiful game again to take the confidence with us," Jurrien Timber said via arsenal.com. "We’ve shown what we’re capable of again and the most important thing is to feel that within ourselves."
Prior to the PSV clash there was a real fear of what could happen to Arsenal in the second half of this season, as 11 league games is a lot of football to play without a recognized striker is a long time, and against PSV, it appears that Arteta found a solution.
But that's PSV. Up next is a greater challenge and United at Old Trafford is never for the faint-hearted.
Yes, the Champions League performance was good for the soul, and one could argue that it came at the right time, but it will all be for nothing if the Gunners roll into Old Trafford and suddenly draw a blank against in front of goal.
But at least they will have the confidence built from the PSV performance to lean on if things get tough because as good as the performance was, nothing in football is guaranteed...and that includes scoring goals.