Four Arsenal goals in 13 minutes stun Atletico – and sends statement to rest of Europe | OneFootball

It may not be Arsenal’s most celebrated win over a club from the Spanish capital in 2025 but there was something seismic, something spectacular about it nonetheless. Atletico Madrid did not just emulate Real Madrid, who were beaten at the Emirates Stadium in April: they surpassed them. And not in the right way. Real lost 3-0 on one of Mikel Arteta’s greatest nights. In the space of 13 surreal minutes, Arsenal scored four times against the club who used to be the byword for defensive solidity.

This was a statement result. Arteta may shrug off a status as favourites for the Premier League but last season’s semi-finalists illustrated they will be a serious force in the Champions League, too. Arteta may often be accused of being too cautious, too conservative, but this was Arsenal being rampant and ruthless, expansive and ambitious.

“The way we prepare the matches is always to try to hurt the opponents as much as possible, as frequently as possible,” he said. Atletico, who capitulated, were bruised and battered. They discovered this was far more painful than having to endure cold showers after training on Tuesday.

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Viktor Gyokeres, left, scored twice to end his barren run in a dominant 4-0 Arsenal victory against Atletico Madrid(John Walton/PA) (PA Wire)

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Gabriel Martinelli put the Gunners two up in an incredible 13-minute four-goal blitz (Getty Images)

In contrast, Arsenal are coming to the boil. If Arteta could enjoy the scoreline, he certainly savoured the identity of one of the scorers. Viktor Gyokeres was deep into an eighth game without a goal and, apart from one shot that Jan Oblak saved, he scarcely looked likely to provide one. Then came two goals in three minutes, the first deflected, the second directed in with his thigh. Gyokeres’ opener, ending his drought, was inadvertently redirected by David Hancko but relief engulfed the Emirates when it nestled in the net.

The £54m forward’s goals were the two least significant, in the context of the game, but perhaps the more important, in the context of their season and his Arsenal career. “It was the biggest smile on his face today,” said Arteta. “I look at his teammates as well, in the picture and the video, they are all so happy for him because he fully deserved it.”

Arsenal had pulled away from Atletico with different goals from different Gabriels: Gabriel Magalhaes with a trademark header, Gabriel Martinelli from a terrific counter-attack. The razor-sharp Martinelli is shaping up as their Champions League specialist: he has scored in all three games as Arsenal have made a 100 percent start. Three more wins should book a top-eight finish, and they can plan to skip the play-off round.

They are taking a familiar route in another respect, too. The Premier League was supposed to be the set-piece league. When Arsenal play, the Champions League is, too. They bookended the scoring with dead-ball goals. Declan Rice’s free kick, curling in viciously, was glanced in by Magalhaes. His deep corner was met by Gabriel, who allowed Gyokeres to thigh in his second.

Rice had been the scourge of Real with his free kicks, when shooting. His crosses, Arteta said, were “superb”. Atletico had no answer to them. Knowing Arsenal excel at set-pieces is one thing, stopping them another altogether. “We know we can create chaos from set-pieces,” said Arteta. They did.

And Magalhaes is a phenomenon in his own right. It is hard to think of a centre-back who is so consistently menacing in the opposition’s penalty box as the Brazilian, who ended with a goal and an assist. “Set-pieces are so important in football,” said Diego Simeone. It was part observation, part lament.

Arsenal’s four-goal blitz was all the more remarkable as there was a case for saying that, early in the second half, Atletico looked likely to break the deadlock. Julian Alvarez was outstanding and curled a shot against the bar.

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Gabriel headed Arsenal in front (Getty Images)

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Gyokeres used his thigh for Arsenal’s fourth (Getty Images)

Before the break, he had almost curled the ball into an unguarded net from an improbable angle, David Raya having taken a risk in possession and being both caught out, and caught out of possession, by Guiliano Simeone. “They win a lot of games like that with individual actions,” said Arteta. This could have been another.

Instead, Atletico’s manager ended up blaming individuals. “It is individual mistakes that affect the team,” said Simeone. The guilty may be left in no doubt that he holds them responsible.

As his inquest began, Arteta could enthuse and eulogise. His side had offered invention. Eze played a lovely, defence-splitting pass for Bukayo Saka; Zubimendi released Gyokeres with a glorious flick. On each occasion, Jan Oblak made a fine save.

Arteta had contributed to their attacking intent, too. He played Eberechi Eze as a No 10 and, albeit with a shot that looped up off Hancko, the Londoner hit the bar. He brought Myles Lewis-Skelly and Martinelli into the team and they combined for the second goal. The left-back made a buccaneering run deep into Atletico territory, the winger curled in a shot. He had a goal disallowed earlier when, offside, he had touched in Saka’s cross-shot. This time there was no denying him.

And no denying Arsenal. Atletico did become the first team in three games to record a shot on target against Arsenal but that was of scant consolation to Simeone. Not after those 13 minutes that were awesome for Arsenal but awful for Atletico.