Arsenal scored four goals in 14 minutes as they thrashed Atletico Madrid to continue their perfect start to the league phase of the Champions League.
The Gunners started the game quickly and Eberechi Eze’s deflected shot hit the bar in the first half, while Atletico’s Julian Alvarez nearly caught out David Raya with a long-range effort while the goalkeeper was stranded outside his area.
The rest of the first half was cagey and that carried on into the second 45 minutes initially, with supporters wondering where the opening would come from.
Centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes answered that question when he headed in Declan Rice’s excellent free-kick in the 57th minute.
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That started a devastating spell for Arsenal as the home side made their usually solid opponents suffer.
Gabriel Martinelli scored with a curled shot after a driving run from Myles Lewis-Skelly, before striker Viktor Gyokeres bundled in his first Arsenal goal for eight matches.
The Sweden international then got his second of the night three minutes later when he converted Gabriel’s knockdown from another dangerous Arsenal corner.
The result means Arsenal have won their opening three games of the competition and have still yet to concede a goal.
Arsenal’s threat from set-pieces is well known, but the Gunners have gone to another level this season.
Both Liverpool manager Arne Slot and Fulham boss Marco Silva have mentioned the Gunners’ ability in those situations recently, with a goal from a corner making the difference in Arsenal’s win over the Cottagers on Saturday.
Mikel Arteta’s team boast excellent delivery from both sides of the pitch with Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka consistently putting the ball in good areas for their team-mates to attack.
Since Rice’s debut for the Gunners in August 2023, only Inter Milan’s Hakan Calhanoglu has more assists from dead balls in all competitions across Europe’s big five leagues than the England international.
It was a set-piece and a goal from Gabriel that saw the Gunners get a crucial win over Newcastle in the Premier League last month, and it was the defender again who opened the scoring against Atletico when this match was crying out for a spark.
Arsenal now has 10 goals from set-pieces this season, excluding penalties, and as they hope to compete in multiple competitions this season, that threat from those opportunities is going to be key.
BBC
