It was billed by many as the battle of the defences and I think few could have imagined the final score, especially at half time. This was a fantastic result for Arsenal yet there are a few moments that you look back on where it could have gone horribly wrong. As always, the first goal in these games is absolutely crucial, even more so in this game when you consider the quality of the defences on show and thankfully it went to Arsenal and the rest, as they say, is history.
The final result cemented Arsenal’s position in the top 8 places of the league, boosted their goal difference (is that a thing in Europe?!) and kept the impressive winning run going into another key game at the weekend against Crystal Palace.
The line-up
Mikel Arteta went strong with the lineup, as expected, with nine players retaining there places from the weekend. One of the changes saw Myles Lewis-Skelly replace Riccardo Calafiori at left back, which wasn’t a big surprise, given how much the Italian has placed so far this season. With the final change involving Gabriel Martinelli coming in on the left, ahead of Lewis-Skelly, with Leandro Trossard dropping to the bench. On the surface, it didn’t feel like a game where Martinelli would thrive, as space would likely be at a premium against the anticipated low block from Atletico. On the other hand, it does fit better with Lewis-Skelly, who is usually tasked with inverting into midfield, leaving Martinelli more space out on the left. There was no Max Dowman on the bench, as he started for the U19s a few hours earlier, so there were two unused places on the bench, but still plenty of firepower.
First half
Arsenal started brightly and there was a clear message from Arteta to press with intensity early on and try and get that opening goal and they came within a few inches of doing just that after five minutes. Eberechi Eze made space for a shot on the edge of the area and let fly with a powerful right shot, only to be closed down instantly, with the ball deflecting off the defender, bouncing agonisingly off the cross bar. The rebound fell kindly to Declan Rice, but in his efforts to keep his shot down, he only succeeded in bouncing it over the crossbar and out for a goal kick.
Arsenal continued to press and had another couple of decent chances, most notably with Myles Lewis-Skelly dragged his shot wide after good work from Eze however, Atletico grew into the game and slowly started to see a bit more of the ball with the next big chance going to the Spaniards. It wasn’t due to a nice piece of play or a moment of individual brilliance from the likes of Julian Alvarez or Koke, it was all of Arsenal’s own doing. David Raya had been a mere spectator for much of the game and came rushing out of his goal near the corner flag to deal with a dangerous ball in behind and decided to try and shepherd it out for a goal kick. Raya soon realised that the ball did not have enough legs to run out and in his panic tried to dribble past Giuliano Simeone and managed to force the ball out for a throw-in, when conceding a foul seemed a very real possibility. The next few seconds were bizarre as Raya ambled his way back to his empty goal, with William Saliba and Gabriel watching on almost motionless. One player who wasn’t motionless was Simeone as he took the throw-in quickly to Alvarez who curled a left footed shot inches wide of the unguarded net.
Giving a one goal lead to this Atletico Madrid team would make for a very uncomfortable evening and gifting them one so carelessly could have been really damaging. The Emirates breathed a huge sigh of relief as Arsenal got away with one.
The excellent Bukayo Saka then jinked his way into the box and hit a cross-shot across the face of goal to be turned in by the onrushing Gabriel Martinelli but the celebrations were cut short as the offside flag was raised instantly with VAR confirming the linesman’s decision. It was a good move and really good play from Saka, who turned his man inside out and frustratingly, it really didn’t seem like Martinelli needed to go that early which was a real shame. That was the last big chance of the half as the teams went into half time goalless with Atletico probably the most pleased by the scoreline, while also knowing that they were so close to snatching the lead as well.
Second half
Arsenal again started the second half brightly, but a rare mistake by Jurrien Timber in playing out from the back, gave Atletico Madrid the chance to string a few passes together before working the ball to Alvarez. The sharp-shooting Argentine needed no invitation and unleashed a fantastic right footed shot from just outside the left of the Arsenal box, only to be denied by the crossbar, as Eze was in the first half.
Another let off for Arsenal and thankfully, this is one they would heed. On 57 minutes, Gabriel Martinelli earned what was in all honesty a very generous free kick, just off the left-hand touchline about 30-35 yards out. Step forward Declan Rice. Arsenal had threatened from set pieces all night without really carving out a clearcut chance, but this one was in a great position for one of Declan Rice’s right footed inswingers so anticipation among The Emirates crowd was high. As it turned out….with good reason!
As reliable as ever, Rice whipped in a beautiful curling cross into the danger area and just as much as you can rely on Rice’s delivery, you can equally rely upon the determination to meet said delivery by Gabriel! The Brazilian powered through the box to meet Rice’s cross and nod powerfully beyond Jan Oblak to sent The Emirates wild. Set piece again, ole, ole. This one felt like a big goal with Atletico now needed to come out and attack Arsenal, which would surely open up more space from the likes of Saka, Martinelli and Gyokeres.
Careful what you wish for, as Atletico Madrid came flying out following conceding and creating a good chance almost instantly. Atletico worked the ball right to Simeone and for a heart in mouth moment it looked like Arsenal would be hit with an instant sucker punch. Gabriel however, had other ideas. If he’s aggressive in the opposition’s penalty area, it seems he finds even another level when it comes to defending his own box. Gabriel ate up the ground to block Simeone’s goal bound shot out for a corner. In true Gabriel fashion, he celebrated his interception with more passion and gusto than his goal, as he could tell how big a moment in the game this was. Also, it’s Gabriel and let’s face it, he loves defending!
If it wasn’t obvious before, it was now clearly apparent that Arsenal needed the cushion of a second goal. Atletico turned to their bench and made a triple substitution to try and turn the tide back in their favour, although in truth the changes had the opposite effect.
On 64 minutes, Myles Lewis-Skelly, who had endured a tricky start to the second half and was due to be replaced by Riccardo Calafiori, took the ball in midfield and spot a chink in the Atletico armour and drove through a gap in the heart of the Spaniards core. The young fullback went from what looked like being on the verge of losing the ball in the centre, to approaching the opposition’s penalty area at pace. The final question was, could he find the killer pass and the answer was a resounding yes, as he slipped a perfectly waiting pass into the path of the onrushing Gabriel Martinelli. The pass was perfect, but Martinelli still had plenty to do which he did with relative easy, as he produced a first time curling right foot finish that the great man, Thierry Henry, would have been proud of. Cue pandemonium as the celebrations went up a notch from the first goal with players piling on from all corners to congratulate the scorer, and the assister, who played in a massive part in the goal.
Happiness turned into almost disbelief shortly after, as on 67 minutes, Arsenal were three to the good and coasting to another Champions League victory. A sumptuous ball from the left foot of Martin Zubimendi found Gabriel Martinelli down the left wing and his cross was only partially cleared to Eze, who forced the ball back into the mixer, where it fell at the feet of Viktor Gyokeres. The first two goals were amazing, but I think most Arsenal fans were secretly wishing that one of them had fallen the way of Gyokeres, who has been desperately seeking to end his goal drought, and now, a big chance had dropped into his lap. You could almost feel every Arsenal fan across the world shouting at Gyokeres to shoot but with the ball stuck under his feet, it looked like another presentable chance might come and go. Thankfully he managed to stab the ball towards goal, only for an Atletico defender to get firm block on the shot, which sent the ball rolling fortuitously into the opposite corner, with Oblak stranded. Gyokeres stood still for a moment, almost internally debating whether or not that would go down as an own goal (which it didn’t!) before deciding, ‘it’s mine’ and throwing up his ‘bane’ celebration, to the delight of 60,000 delirious Gooners.
The big striker’s next goal drought lasted only 3 minutes as another perfect Declan Rice corner found Gabriel at the back post who nodded back across goal, as he did against Fulham at the weekend, for Gyokeres to poke home with…let’s say his upper thigh! This one was definitely his and he celebrated it fully with beaming teammates all around him, the relief and ecstasy coming off him like radiation! It was also strange to see Gyokeres do his Bane celebration with Gabriel in such close proximity, given that it didn’t seem that long ago that Gabriel was scoring against Sporting and mocking the now famous celebration!
Cue a raft of substitutions as Ethan Nwaneri, Cristhian Mosquera, Mikel Merino, Christian Norgaard and Ben White all getting a run out. Ethan Nwaneri was particularly lively and cleared one from under his own goal line in one breath and then looked to add a fifth at the death in another. The scoring however, was done and Arsenal ran away comfortable winners in the end against the former finalists, in a statement win at The Emirates.
Three key takeaways
Gabriel is the best player in the world at attacking corners and set pieces
This one feels kind of obvious as it has to be true, doesn’t it? I can’t think of many players down the years, never mind right now, that hold a flame to our ‘King of Brazil’ when it comes to attacking dead ball crosses. He judges the flight so well, is aggressive and times his run perfectly to meet the crosses, that as much talk is made of his threat and the various attempts we’ve seen to stop him, I’m not sure you can. The fact that we’ve now perfected another routine that leads to Gabriel assisting the goal makes it even more difficult to stop. Long may it continue.
Despite being a 4-0 win, this could easily have gone wrong for Arsenal
I don’t want to end on this point, as it feels like a bit of a sour note, that said, if I’m being balanced and fair, I think there were a couple of moments in this game that could have sent the result (or at least the momentum) in the opposite direction. The Raya moment was poor from all concerned and we definitely got away with one there and the second big chance for Atletico was inches away from putting the Spaniards ahead. When you play the biggest teams in Europe though, and I do think Atletico Madrid fall into that bracket, despite their form this season, you’re never going to have it all your own way. It’s hard to limit a player like Julian Alvarez to nothing in a game so on this occasion, I think we just have to reflect on the mistakes that were made in the build up to those chances, learn and improve, and then count our lucky stars that the ball fell for us this time.
All of these players are 100% behind Viktor Gyokeres
I know Arteta was banging this drum earlier in the week at his press conference and also in the pressers surrounding the Fulham game, but he’s the Manager and is always going to toe that line. Actions speak louder than words and the joy and celebrations when Gyokeres scored his goals were so authentic that there can be no other conclusion than the Arsenal players have completely accepted him as one of their own, respect him and want him to succeed. It’s a special group we have right now and I think Gyokeres, and the other new signings have only strengthened that further. With team spirit like this, we could really go far this season.