Arsenal delivered a stunning performance on Tuesday night, thrashing Atletico Madrid 4-0 in a Champions League group stage match at the Emirates Stadium. The victory not only extended Arsenal's unbeaten run to nine games but also marked a historic achievement for the club, securing their seventh consecutive win against Spanish opposition in the Champions League, a feat unmatched by any other team in the competition.
The first half was a tightly contested affair, with both sides displaying robust defense. Atletico Madrid nearly broke the deadlock when Julián Alvarez's shot hit the crossbar. Arsenal also had their chances, with Ebere Eze's deflected shot looping over the goalkeeper but hitting the crossbar, and Bukayo Saka being denied by a point-blank save from Jan Oblak. Despite Arsenal's impressive play, the first 45 minutes ended in a stalemate.
The second half, however, was a different story. Arsenal came out with renewed vigor, and their relentless pressure finally paid off in the 57th minute when Gabriel Magalhães headed in a Declan Rice free-kick to break the deadlock. Seven minutes later, Gabriel Martinelli finished off a sweeping move with a neat side-footed finish into the bottom corner, doubling Arsenal's advantage.
Viktor Gyökeres, who had been under scrutiny for his recent goal drought, then stole the show with two goals in quick succession. In the 67th minute, he scored his first goal of the night with a deflected shot, ending his nine-game barren run for both club and country. He then added another in the 73rd minute, bundling the ball over the line from a set-piece, further compounding Atletico's woes.
Arsenal's dominant second-half performance left Atletico Madrid shell-shocked. The Gunners' ability to capitalize on set-pieces and their relentless attacking pressure proved too much for the Spanish side to handle. The victory puts Arsenal in a strong position to qualify for the knockout phase, with nine points from three games.
"It was a tough match. After the [first] goal [Atletico] opened up a bit and it was a little easier for us to find the spaces," said Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. He also expressed his delight at Gyökeres's performance, saying, "He fully deserved it. The work rate he brings to the team is outstanding".
The win was Arsenal's 100th in the Champions League, marking a significant milestone in the club's history. It also extended their record-breaking run against Spanish teams in the competition. The Gunners last lost to a Spanish opponent in the Champions League in 2016 when they were knocked out by Barcelona.
Arsenal's next Champions League fixture is against Slavia Prague. Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid will look to bounce back from this defeat as they continue their Champions League campaign.
