Arsenal Thrashed Atlético Madrid 4-0, Skelly the Backbone of this Fixture

Karun Abraham

Sports Journalist

“Arsenal ripped the game open from the second half, starting from a bitz goal in the 13th minute in the second half, from there on it was game over for Atlético Madrid, and it was back-to-back goals, flooring the fans and the opponents, electrifying the atmosphere at the Emirates Stadium.”

Devastating Loss for Atlético Madrid

Arsenal thrashed Atlético Madrid with a score of 4-0; there is no other way to say it. The first half could have been anyone's game with both teams trying their level best to score and still the score remained 0-0. The only place the two teams were not neck-and-neck from the start was possession, where Arsenal had a major advantage and Atléti was left chasing them and gaining back the ball only when the Gunners made a mistake.

But this changed in the second half, where a header from Gabriel in the 57th minute was where the floodgates opened. From then on Arsenal had a surge of confidence, with their talented left-back becoming the star creating opportunities that led to the exciting goal by Martinelli in the 64th minute and the two fabulous goals by Vikto Gyökores back to back in the 67th and 70th minutes.

First Half — Fine margins, rising temperature

The opening period was defined by control without reward. Arsenal pressed assertively and found early rhythm, with Eberechi Eze rattling the woodwork during their best spell. Atlético threatened sporadically in transition and defended their box with typical resolve. The biggest talking point arrived on 36’: Martinelli turned home at the far post, only to be flagged clearly offside after Bukayo Saka’s driving run and cross. Half-time arrived at 0–0, the sense being that the first goal would swing the contest.

Second Half — Arsenal’s 13-minute whirlwind

Everything changed on 57’. From a left-side free-kick, Rice delivered a wicked ball and Gabriel surged through traffic to glance a header inside the far corner for 1–0. Seven minutes later (64’), Lewis-Skelly burst centrally and slipped Martinelli down the inside-left channel; the Brazilian opened his body and stroked a gorgeous finish across Jan Oblak. The Emirates erupted — and Arsenal didn’t stop.

On 67’, a broken attack saw Gyökeres force a scruffy effort that deflected in for 3–0; on 70’, Arsenal’s corner routine recycled to the far post, Gabriel headed back across, and Gyökeres arrived to bundle in 4–0. Four goals in 13–14 minutes — an avalanche that Atlético couldn’t stem.

Tactical Analysis

Arsenal blended patience with precision. The key levers:

• Set-pieces as launchpads: rehearsed delivery and crowding the six-yard lane produced the crucial opener.
• Central surges: Lewis-Skelly’s direct carries dragged Atlético’s block apart to create the 2–0 moment.
• Wide-to-inside rotations: Saka/Martinelli repeatedly attacked the inside channels once the first line was beaten.
• Counter-press & rest-defence: Quick clamps on second balls prevented Atlético from stringing counters together after 1–0.

Atlético Madrid held firm for 55 minutes but unravelled once behind. Their compact 4/5-line was stretched by quicker switches and deeper byline entries; after 2–0, defensive spacing collapsed under Arsenal’s tempo, and set-piece phases became increasingly perilous. A notable near-miss came just before the blitz when Álvarez clipped the bar — the last real warning before momentum flipped decisively. 

Individual Performances

• Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal) — Player of the Match: Two goals back-to-back in three minutes, the final nail in the coffin.
• Gabriel (Arsenal) — The towering header that started it all for the Arsenal counterattack.
• Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal) — Lively to watch all night, and set the score 2-0 with an early strike making it impossible to cry offside and was the bell that ran the death knell for the opponent.
• Declan Rice (Arsenal) — The set-piece master who made the pressure bubble for Atlético Madrid.
• Myles Lewis Skelly — The Left back that set every non-set-piece goal for Arsenal, the backbone of today’s fixture.
• David Raya (Arsenal) — Assured handling for the clean sheet; calm distribution under pressure.
• Jan Oblak (Atlético) — Produced several strong interventions, but was overwhelmed during the blitz.

Aftermath & Implications

The result underlines Arsenal’s evolution in Europe: dead-ball threat + vertical punch + control. A performance of this clarity in the League Phase strengthens seeding position and sends a message to direct rivals. For Atlético, it’s a reminder that conceding first to this Arsenal invites a tempo they struggle to dampen; tightening set-piece details and transition coverage will be immediate priorities before the next continental assignment.