Arsenal 13-Minute Atlético Thrashing: Match Report & Highlights

Atlético had resisted very well for almost an hour and even enjoyed a couple of great chances thanks to Julián Álvarez, their only player of another dimension, but Arsenal imposed their law with four goals in just thirteen minutes that showed the enormous differences between one team and the other. Perhaps too much punishment for what was seen on the field, but the reality is marked by the forcefulness, the goals and the management of the key moments of the matches.

Everyone knows that this Arsenal built by Mikel Arteta is not that historic team of Arsène Wenger, who made it very beautiful but was vulnerable, and Atlético suffered it firsthand. It is indisputable that these ‘Gunners’ are a crusher on set pieces, and the Madrid team were also destroyed in their strategy. And it is a reality that the Premier League leader barely concedes goals, only three in 12 official matches, and Atlético was left to zero. There are already seven consecutive victories for Arsenal against Spanish teams. Little more to say.

Arsenal, one of the strong candidates for this Champions League due to quality, order, balance and physicality, was always more than the Spanish representative, but apparently during a good match it seemed unimaginable to think about that rout that stopped the Colchoneros’ evolution in its tracks and sent them straight to the thinking corner. Atlético had overcome a disturbing start, then grown and came out with more ambition in the second half, when Julián shot the crossbar, but it dissolved like a sugar cube. When Gabriel Magalhaes scored, with a header, after a non-existent foul by Llorente, Simeone’s team resigned and were overwhelmed in a flash. Martinelli and a double from Gyokeres, who closed the win in another set-piece action, spoke for themselves.

Simeone tried to repeat the derby experience by bridging the gap, since today this Arsenal is much more of a team than Real Madrid, and he lined up Sorloth as the starter. The Norwegian is a regular substitute, but for these types of tough contests the long ball is always a resource for him to bring it down. At Arsenal, the bench for Mikel Merino surprises the Spanish fan more than the English one.

The start was reminiscent of what Atlético suffered in Liverpool, but this time the colchoneros did not concede quickly. The high and intense pressure from the Gunners suffocated the Madrid team, with serious difficulties in getting the ball out of play. And as they got rid of it, Arsenal immediately recovered it and went back to the attack. Above all, Bukayo Saka broke Hancko time and again on the right wing of the local attack.

Julian against the world

An error by Giménez preluded a rapid attack that was not a miracle goal, since Eze’s shot rebounded off Hancko and hit the crossbar, with Oblak already beaten. And Rice’s subsequent shot went close to the crossbar. Lewis-Skelly also came close to scoring, but crossed the ball too much. In the midst of London harassment, it was Oblak who aborted Saka’s internship on his way out.

Simeone did not like the panorama and neither did the judge’s criteria when it came to indicating fouls and showing those yellow cards, like the one Giménez saw, which condition so much. The Italian team did get it right by disallowing Martinelli’s goal due to obvious offside. Protests on the sidelines, Atlético was finding more ball, escaping the harassment and even causing fear from time to time.

The persistence of the tireless and optimistic Giuliano and an error by Raya ended in a very quick throw-in that almost ended in a 0-1 score. Julián Álvarez shot into an empty goal, but he was very heeled and did not hit the goal. The Spider, besides Saka, was the player who showed the most hierarchy. With Sorloth as a reference, the Argentine dropped more to weave the game and act as Griezmann. It was halftime and Atlético resisted well.

The red and white team came out well after the restart, pressing high and with a huge Julián. It appeared everywhere and a wonderful shot was taken from the edge of the area that hit the crossbar. Opposite, Zubimendi assisted Gyokeres, but Oblak became big. The duel was on the edge at that moment.

It happened that the referee saw a foul the wrong way round, called Llorente instead of Martinelli and Arsenal scored in the strategy. Rice put it into cinema and Gabriel Magalhaes headed alone. Perhaps Oblak should have come out on top, but the Slovenian does not stand out in that aspect. That goal hurt Atlético’s pride, which scared them through Giuliano and Nico González. But just after Cholo made a triple change, always a risky measure, a magnificent drive by Lewis-Skelly ended with a great goal from Martinelli. And shortly after, Gyokeres scored against Atlético, who held their ground until they were shaken.