Mikel Arteta rotated his side heavily having prevailed 7-1 in Eindhoven last week and will now look forward to a mouth-watering quarter-final.
Arsenal cruised into the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a 9-3 aggregate win over Dutch side PSV, though were held to a 2-2 draw on Wednesday.
Mikel Arteta had the luxury of resting several key players with one foot already in the last eight, where they will meet either Atletico Madrid or Real Madrid next month. The hosts took the lead on the night inside the opening six minutes as Raheem Sterling cut inside from Tyrell Malacia on the right flank and played in the advancing Oleksandr Zinchenko, who was starting back in midfield against his former side. He shifted the ball onto his stronger left foot and found the far corner with a wonderful curling effort.
PSV brought themselves level, in the second leg at least, with a swift move from an Arsenal goal-kick. Guus Til peeled away off the back of Jorginho and then picked out former Tottenham winger Ivan Perisic, in acres of space vacated by centre-backs Jakub Kiwior and Gabriel Magalhaes, with a perfectly-weighted pass. The Croatian emphatically found the top corner to give the travelling supporters something to shout about.
The Gunners went close to their second of the evening when Mikel Merino's deft flick in behind ricocheted off the heel of centre-back Adama Nagalo and into the path of Myles Lewis-Skelly, whose toe-poke was diverted onto the outside of the post and behind by goalkeeper Walter Benitez.
Shortly before the break, Arsenal found that go-ahead goal. Sterling was the provider again as he scampered past Malacia to the touchline and delivered a teasing cross into the box, where Declan Rice came crashing in to head home.
Chelsea loanee Sterling was brimming with confidence, but failed to cash in a goal of his when set racing away by Zinchenko on a breakaway from a PSV corner as his attempted dink over Benitez was easily smothered by the stopper.
A drab second half saw PSV pull level again when Jorginho was dispossessed far too easily in midfield and the visitors were able to slice through Arsenal at pace, with Couhaib Driouech lobbing Raya with a superb effort. That proved to be the last meaningful action of the game as Arsenal punched their ticket to Madrid.
GOAL rates Arsenal's players from the Emirates Stadium…
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David Raya (6/10):
Didn't have a lot on his plate in way of stopping shots and had no chance of keeping out either goal regardless. Effectively just provided another outfield option when playing from the back.
Ben White (6/10):
Made his first start since November having finally recovered from knee surgery. Understandably rusty in parts, but still had a few moments of technical brilliance to give Gunners fans a glimpse of what's to come for the final stretch of the season. Given a rest towards the end of the game with Timber coming on.
Jakub Kiwior (4/10):
Stuck out like a sore thumb at the back, clumsy both with and without the ball, failing to make good on a rare start. Booked for a dubious foul on Perisic.
Gabriel Magalhaes (6/10):
The vocal leader at the back. Made a sweeping recovery challenge to deny Driouech late in the first half after White had ceded possession.
Myles Lewis-Skelly (7/10):
Never shied away from an opportunity to get forward and join in attacks, nearly forcing a goal for his troubles before Benitez deflected his effort onto the post. Way more of a natural in the final third than makeshift winger Tierney, and was moved into midfield after Calafiori's introduction.
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Jorginho (3/10):
Struggled with the pace of the game at crucial moments. For Perisic's goal, he switched off and allowed the roaming PSV attackers to slip in behind him, and was then robbed of the ball for Driouech's lob.
Oleksandr Zinchenko (8/10):
Capable of both bringing the ball out from the back and pushing up alongside auxiliary striker Merino, it's a wonder why Arteta hasn't trusted Zinchenko to play in midfield more this season. Got the night going with a fine solo goal, and refused to celebrate out of respect for his former club. Afforded a standing ovation when taken off for Odegaard.
Declan Rice (8/10):
One of few Arsenal players who played this match as if something was actually on the line, harrying into challenges and moving with the swagger expected of a £105m midfielder. Scored for the second game running having also netted at Manchester United on Sunday. Replaced by Calafiori just after the hour mark and shortly following a caution.
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Raheem Sterling (8/10):
At long last, Sterling has an Arsenal performance he can point to as a sign his decline may not be totally irreversible. His assist for Zinchenko wasn't much, but he had to work extremely hard to tee up Rice later on, beating Malacia down the flank and conjuring up a perfect cross. Ought to have scored himself but couldn't keep his composure when one-on-one with Benitez. Booked in added time for a high challenge on Bakayoko that rules him out of the quarter-final first leg.
Mikel Merino (5/10):
Selfless with his hold-up play but still doesn't seem comfortable leading the line alone, with few actions coming inside the penalty area. Subbed for Trossard in the second half.
Kieran Tierney (5/10):
Similarly an awkward fit out on the wing as opposed to full-back, delivering crosses with the stiffness of a player used to playing at the other end of the pitch. Replaced by Martinelli late in the day.
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Riccardo Calafiori (6/10):
Came on at left-back, allowing Lewis-Skelly to move into midfield. Combined well with the teenager to give himself a shot on goal, which was parried away by Benitez.
Leandro Trossard (5/10):
Introduced as a striker for Merino. Didn't get in the game too much.
Martin Odegaard (6/10):
One of three players given a late run-out by Arteta. Nearly assisted Sterling with a clever flick in stoppage time.
Jurrien Timber (5/10):
Booed by PSV's travelling cohort for his connections to rivals Ajax.
Gabriel Martinelli (5/10):
Put on as a right winger, with Sterling ending the match on the left.
Mikel Arteta (7/10):
It must have been tremendously hard for the manager to lift his players for such a dead-rubber event, but they got the job done anyways.
