Arsenal cruised to a 4-0 win over Atlético Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday, with all of their goals coming in just 14 exciting second-half minutes.
Arsenal run rampant in second-half demolition of Atlético Madrid
Arteta’s side set out their stall for a rapid start and might have been ahead inside five minutes when summer signing Eberechi Eze created space for himself on the edge of the area, with his resulting strike looping off David Hancko’s ankle and over goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
However, the crossbar denied Eze a first Champions League goal before Declan Rice thudded the follow-up into the ground and over.
Eze was involved again with 19 minutes gone with an eye-of-the-needle pass to Bukayo Saka. The England winger, who had the away side “on toast” according to Paul Merson, beat Oblak to the ball, but Atleti’s keeper did just enough to divert his dinked effort away from danger.
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Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid – most shots |
Total |
|---|---|
|
Bukayo Saka |
5 |
|
Gabriel Magalhaes |
3 |
|
Viktor Gyokeres |
3 |
|
Julian Alvarez |
3 |
|
Eberechi Eze |
2 |
|
via WhoScored |
|
Moments after the interval, Alvarez was given time and space to turn on the edge of the box. His fine curling effort had a diving Raya beaten, but it was the home side who were saved by the woodwork this time round.
Then came the goals.
Rice’s sumptuous set-piece on 57 minutes was begging to be converted, and an unmarked Gabriel did not disappoint. Arsenal’s second came from a fine driving run from Myles Lewis-Skelly, with the England teenager picking up the ball in the centre circle and getting past four Atlético players before finding Martinelli — who curled his shot into the far corner and doubled the home side’s advantage.
The score became three when Viktor Gyokeres’ barren run without a goal finally came to an end. Eze failed to volley home Martinelli’s cross, but the ball fell to Gyokeres, who managed to dig out his shot which deflected in off Hancko’s heel.
The Swede had another three minutes later. Rice’s corner beat everyone bar Gabriel at the back post, and the Brazilian’s header was bundled in off Gyokeres’ thigh. The 27-year-old had gone 38 days without scoring, but now had two goals in three minutes.
Simeone was deflated on the touchline, while Arteta oversaw his side’s sixth straight win of a season which is promising to deliver so much.
It was a night to remember for the Gunners, who maintained their 100 per cent start to the Champions League campaign, but one man who wasn’t anywhere to be seen in the matchday squad was 20-year-old Alexei Rojas.
Alexei Rojas responds to dig over Arsenal role
The South American, who joined Arsenal’s academy in 2019, is yet to make his senior debut for the north Londoners, with Colombia U20 manager César Torres taking a sly dig at Rojas’ role under Arteta and explaining why he didn’t play him at the Under-20 World Cup.
“Here, there’s a starting goalkeeper who gets playing time, who’s a starter in our league,” he said, via AS.
“Then there’s Alexéi, who’s from Arsenal, who’s never played. I selected the only game he’s played. He’s never played for his club, and if you look at the professional team photo, he’s not there. So, we have to explain that to people.”
In response to Torres, speaking to AS, Arsenal’s young shot-stopper fought back — clarifying that he is indeed viewed as a senior player in Arteta’s squad.
“In the last 24 hours, there have been some words circulating about the doubts about whether I am part of Arsenal’s professional squad or not,” he said.
“When the photo of the Arsenal professional squad was taken, it was the week of October 16th. I was in Paraguay with the national team, thinking about this World Cup.
“I’m now returning to Arsenal to be in the first team, to continue learning and sharing with the best players and coaches in the world. To continue helping the team so we can go for more.
“It’s a team that is first in the best league in the world, and we are going for the Premier League, the FA Cup, the Carabao Cup, and the Champions League. I’m a very firm member of that squad, and I am growing and contributing a lot every day.”
Rojas has appeared on the bench for Arteta, particularly last season, but is yet to get a nod in the matchday squad, which could be down to his involvement in the Under-20 World Cup as it only concluded two days ago.
Colombia took third place in the tournament after beating France, so they were in it for a long period, and it will be interesting to see what Rojas’ role is now he’s coming back to N5.
