Arsenal produced a breathtaking second-half performance to blow away Atletico Madrid 4-0 at the Emirates Stadium, marking their 100th UEFA Champions League UCL victory in emphatic fashion. The result extended their perfect start to the campaign and underlined their growing reputation as one of Europe's most in-form teams, Softfootball reports.
Coming into the clash on the back of a 2-0 win over Olympiacos in their last UCL outing , Arsenal began with purpose and confidence. Sitting top of the Premier League and unbeaten in Europe, Mikel Arteta's men nearly took an early lead when Declan Rice lashed over from close range after Eberechi Eze's effort crashed off the post. Myles Lewis-Skelly also came close, while David Raya had a nervy moment when caught off his line, though Giuliano Simeone failed to capitalise.
The Gunners kept pushing and thought they'd taken the lead when Gabriel Martinelli slotted home from a Bukayo Saka assist, only for the flag to go up for offside. Atletico reminded Arsenal of their threat when Julian alvarez rattled the bar from distance, but the breakthrough finally came from a familiar source a Rice free-kick whipped into the box and clinically headed home by Gabriel Magalhes.