Arsenal blew Atletico Madrid away with four goals in 13 second-half minutes as the Gunners maintained their 100 per cent record in the Champions League with a statement 4-0 win.
Just like they did against Atleti’s city rivals Real in April, the Gunners dismantled Diego Simeone’s defence on a perfect evening that saw two more set-piece goals and a double for Viktor Gyokeres to end his seven-game Arsenal goal drought.
Arsenal dominated from start to finish and could have been up at half-time. Eberechi Eze struck the bar and Declan Rice missed a good chance from the rebound, while Jan Oblak denied Bukayo Saka and Gyokeres either side of half-time with solid saves.
Atleti barely threatened until Julian Alvarez struck the bar just after half-time on his return to England – but then came the Arsenal onslaught.
Arsenal’s Gabriel celebrates after scoring the first
Just before the hour mark, Rice’s wicked free-kick from near the touchline found an unmarked Gabriel, whose glancing header gave Arsenal the lead. The Brazilian defender showcased his brilliance in the other box seconds later when he blocked Giuliano Simeone’s goalbound shot.
Seven minutes later, it was two. Myles Lewis-Skelly went on a lung-bursting run to the edge of the box and teed up Gabriel Martinelli, who expertly found the far corner.
Six minutes after that, it was 4-0 – courtesy of Gyokeres’ double. The first was scrappy as Atleti looked ragged at the back, before he then finished from close range after Gabriel nodded back a corner from Rice.
This was a night where everything went right for Arsenal. The season is looking that way too.
‘Arsenal streamrolled past Atleti – who looked lost’
Sky Sports’ Paul Merson:
“No one beats Atletico Madrid 4-0.
“If that Alvarez chance went in a couple of minutes into the second half, who knows – different game.
“Arsenal just kept going and going and steamrolled them in the end. Literally steamrolled.
“I haven’t seen an Atletico team look like that for a long time. They looked lost, literally lost. They looked beaten up and were just well, well beaten.
“A massive statement. Big game this weekend now against Palace. This is a big football match. They’re rolling along, but this is a great performance, especially in the Champions League.”
Arteta: Gyokeres makes us a better team
Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres celebrates scoring his first goal against Atletico Madrid
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta:
“Well, obviously, I’m extremely happy and proud about the performance and the results against a really good side. I was very impressed when I analysed them and what I’ve seen today about them as well. I knew about the difficulty of it. It required a lot of aggression and a lot of patience as well.
The way they managed the context of the game and the way they can manipulate their behaviour was really impressive. With 0-0 at half-time, even though we generated two, three big chances, we had to stay patient, but at the same time, increase a little bit certain areas to damage them more.
“[Gyokeres] deserved it because everything that we were seeing in terms of what he was bringing to the team and how much he was helping the team in many areas, apart from scoring goals in the last few weeks, there was no debate about that. It was about keeping that belief in himself, that emotional state that he can enjoy and play freely. Again, it was one of those two goals, and as you said, a big smile on his face.
“I look at his team-mates as well, in the picture and the video, they are all so happy for him because he fully deserved it.”
“He makes us a much better team. I think we’ve become much more unpredictable. He’s so physical, open, his face is for everybody. The way he presses the ball, holds the ball, that’s phenomenal.
“And then there’s only cake and the biggest thing that we’re going to debate about him is goals. He’s scored two very different ones today, and hopefully he starts to get some momentum and a good run of goals.”
Simeone: Big moments went against us
Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone:
“The positives, are that we competed very well until the first Arsenal goal. After that we could have defended better. They did very well and got their goals.
“Set-pieces are so important in football and it can be key in this competition. It could come down to fine margins, in terms taking the game in your control or not. It’s not down to bad luck, it’s down to mistakes. They made the most of our mistakes, took their chances. Their chances turned into goals.
“We could have scored in the first half and hit the bar in the second half. This is a lesson we have to learn. Today those key moments went against us.
“It’s individual mistakes that affect the team, losing your man from a set-piece. For the third goal we were too weak and it ended up going in off a deflection anyway. These are small details that can turn the team in one team’s favour.”
