Arteta’s army Arsenal produced a stunning second-half performance that blew away Diego Simeone’s Atlético Madrid 4-0 at the Emirates Stadium, while also marking a century of victories in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) proper.
Sitting top of the Premier League and looking to extend their 100% UCL record, Arsenal began brightly here, and Declan Rice should have broken the deadlock inside five minutes, lashing over on the rebound after Eberechi Eze’s initial strike cannoned off the post.
Myles Lewis-Skelly then fired wide from inside the box, as the Gunners went for the kill early on – though there was also a brief moment of panic when David Raya was caught well outside his goal from a throw-in, and Giuliano Simeone narrowly failed to make him pay.
That was a rare moment of Atlético promise though, as Saka teed up Gabriel Martinelli to slot the ball home, but the Brazilian was flagged for offside at the end of a promising first half for Arsenal. Once again, Diego Simeone’s side threatened to land a sucker punch, when Julián Alvarez rattled a long-range strike onto the bar, but it was Arteta’s men who finally struck first via a very familiar method, as Declan Rice floated a free-kick into the box, and Gabriel was on hand to head home in clinical fashion.
Champuons League: Arsenal blow away Atletico Madrid at Emirates
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