Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Zubimendi, Rice, Eze, Martinelli, Saka, Gyokeres
Subs: Kepa, Setford, Mosquera, White, Hincapie, Calafiori, Nwaneri, Norgaard, Trossard, Merino
Arsenal maintained their perfect Champions League record with a clinical 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, thanks to goals from Gabriel, Gabriel Martinelli and a brace from Viktor Gyokeres.
Mikel Arteta made two changes from the side that beat Fulham on Saturday, with Myles Lewis-Skelly and Martinelli coming in for Riccardo Calafiori and Leandro Trossard.
FIRST HALF
Arsenal made a strong start and hit the woodwork within five minutes after Eberechi Eze’s deflected shot looped over Jan Oblak and onto the crossbar, with Declan Rice smashing the rebound into the ground and wide.
Bukayo Saka also looked sharp in the early stages and breezed past David Hancko twice in quick succession, although his crosses couldn’t quite find any red shirts in the middle. The third time he got in behind the Slovakian resulted in another chance for Lewis-Skelly who dragged another shot wide from a promising position.
Atletico eventually settled into the game and were able to string some possession together, before they almost took the lead in bizarre circumstances after David Raya misjudged a loose ball out wide – right next to the corner flag – and nearly got caught by Julian Alvarez.
The visitors took a quick throw in and with Raya well out of his goal, Alvarez volleyed a first time effort inches wide as the Emirates crowd held their breath. It was a lucky escape having conceded virtually nothing up until that point.
With 35 minutes on the clock, Arsenal thought they’d taken the lead when Gabriel Martinelli tapped in at the back post after more good wing play from Saka, but replays showed he’d gone too early and was marginally ahead of the ball.
It was a decent first half from Arteta’s men who had clear sights of goal but couldn’t take their chances, although Atletico grew into the contest after a difficult start.
SECOND HALF
Arsenal continued to push after the break but it was Atletico who were inches away from taking the lead when Alvarez whacked a brilliant strike from distance, which curled over Raya and onto the crossbar.
It was another nearly moment for the Argentine who continued to look dangerous, before Zubimendi played Viktor Gyokeres through up the other end, only for Oblak to come out and smother his effort.
With a few nerves beginning to creep in, everything would change in a 13-minute second half blitz with the Gunners scoring FOUR goals to blow their opponents away.
In typical (and hilarious) fashion, Arsenal broke the deadlock from a set piece situation after Martinelli was fouled by Marcos Llorente, with Rice curling in a perfect ball towards Gabriel who attacked it and made no mistake from close range. 1-0.
We laugh about Set Piece FC but being able to break games open from free kicks, corners or long throws is extremely valuable – especially when deliveries are so consistent and more importantly; the team doesn’t concede goals.
From there the floodgates opened and six minutes later it was two, and this goal was inspired by the ball-carrying brilliance of Lewis-Skelly who drove with the ball, evaded three challenges in midfield and played through Martinelli who curled beautifully beyond Oblak. 2-0.
Arsenal tails were up and Atletico looked shellshocked, which meant the third would soon follow – three minutes after the second – with Gyokeres bundling in from close range after good play from Zubimendi to free Martinelli down the left hand side. 3-0.
It wasn’t pretty but when you’re a centre forward without a goal in nearly ten hours of football – you take them however they come.
The Swedish striker completed the onslaught with another close range finish, this time with a more sensitive part of the body after Gabriel found himself free at the back post to head another Rice corner across goal. 4-0.
Atletico had no answer to the speed, freedom and confidence with which Arsenal were playing and what had been an even contest up until the hour mark, evaporated in minutes.
Both sides made changes in the knowledge that this result was decided and Diego Simeone was left to simmer in his thoughts on the bench, while his team chased shadows for the remaining few minutes.
Three wins from three, nine points, no goals conceded, Gyokeres on the scoresheet – if Carling did Champions League nights.