Wednesday’s briefing: Arsenal hit seven as Aston Villa also win in Europe

Arsenal thrashed PSV Eindhoven 7-1 in the Champions League in a stunning return to form while Aston Villa also enjoyed a good night in the competition on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Liverpool boss Arne Slot was also speaking about his side’s game against Paris St Germain on the day further details emerged about his sending off in last month’s Merseyside derby.

Mikel Arteta’s side all but secured their place in the quarter-finals as they ran out emphatic winners in the first leg of their last-16 tie at the Philips Stadion.

The Gunners may have suffered some costly slips in the Premier League title race of late, but they wasted little time in proving they remain firm contenders on the European front.

Jurrien Timber, Ethan Nwaneri and Mikel Merino all found the target inside half an hour.

Noa Lang replied from the penalty spot, but two goals from Martin Odegaard and further efforts from Leandro Trossard and Riccardo Calafiori completed a rout.

Aston Villa also put one foot in the last eight after two goals in the last 10 minutes secured an impressive 3-1 win at Club Brugge.

The tone for a glorious night in Belgium was set after just 135 seconds when Leon Bailey fizzed his side in front.

Maxim De Cuyper brought Brugge level in the 12th minute but Villa’s late flurry, with Brandon Mechele’s 82nd-minute own goal followed by Marco Asensio’s penalty six minutes later, meant they took a firm grip on the tie.

Referee Michael Oliver claimed Liverpool boss Arne Slot told him he would be to blame if the Reds did not win the Premier League, it has emerged.

Slot and his assistant Sipke Hulshoff were both sent off by Oliver in a stormy end to last month’s 2-2 draw with Everton at Goodison Park.

The pair had both confronted the official after