Arsenal 4-0 Atletico Madrid
Magalhães (57′) Martinelli (64′) Gyokeres (67′ , 70′)
Arsenal bulldozed their way past Atletico Madrid to maintain their 100% record in the Champions League after a dominant second-half performance.
In a goalless first half, David Raya almost gifted the visitors the lead in the 24th minute. After tussling with Giuliano Simeone at the corner flag, the resultant Julian Alvarez strike narrowly missed as the goalkeeper scampered back to his goal.
Arsenal thought they had opened the scoring in the 35th minute, after Gabriel Martinelli bundled home Bukayo Saka’s sliding cross. Unfortunately for Mikel Arteta’s side, the Brazilian attacker was positioned offside in the build-up.
The home side pulled away to a routine victory in the second half, after scoring four goals in 13 minutes to seal the win.
Gabriel Magalhães powered home Declan Rice’s inswinging free kick in the 57th minute to open the scoring.
Martinelli then made up for his offside goal in the 64th minute. Myles Lewis-Skelly’s clever pass allowed the Brazilian to advance into the box unmarked. He curled a delicate right-footed shot past the outstretched Jan Oblak for a superb second goal.
Summer acquisition Viktor Gyokeres added two goals in three minutes to finish off the rout. He bundled home from inside the six-yard box after Eberechi Eze’s initial strike in the 67th minute.
The Swede added the fourth shortly, prodding home another Rice set piece to the delight of the home faithful.
The emphatic victory moves the Gunners into 3rd place in the Champions League table; they are yet to concede a goal in the competition, and look the real deal. They return to Premier League action against Crystal Palace.
Arsenal: Raya, Timber (White 83′) Magalhães (Mosquera 72′) Saliba, Lewis-Skelly, Zubimendi (Nørgaard 83′) Rice, Saka, Eze (Nwaneri 73′) Martinelli, Gyokeres (Merino 83′)
Atletico Madrid: Oblak, Hancko, Gimenez (Baena 63′) Le Normand, Llorente, Gonzalez (Ruggeri 63′) Kokę (Gallagher 63′) Barrios, Simeone (Griezmann 72′) Sorloth (Almada 72′) Alvarez
