Arsenal 4-0 Atletico Madrid: Player ratings from Gunners' brilliant win in UCL

Arsenal hammered Atletico Madrid 4-0 in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, October 21, with Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Martinelli getting on the scoresheet before Viktor Gyökeres added a brace.

A familiar route meant a familiar goalscorer in the form of Gabriel, who headed Arsenal in front three minutes before the hour mark. The bullish central defender ghosted clear of Atletico's previously stubborn defence to make glancing contact with a Declan Rice free-kick.

The hosts dominated a goalless first half at the Emirates Stadium, with Martinelli and Bukayo Saka constant threats. Turning victory in the energy battle and territorial ownership into ruthless end product proved elusive, when Martinelli had a goal chalked off for offside, while Saka drew a fine stop from Jan Oblak, before Eberechi Eze hit the bar.

Mikel Arteta's team needed some special solutions to break down Atleti's rugged defensive resolve. Those answers weren't coming from Eze, who, not for the first time this season, didn't always appear comfortable in the No. 10 spot.

It also didn't help Gunners' striker Gyökeres found himself on the end of some typically punishing defending from centre-backs José Maria Giménez and Robin Le Normand. Fortunately, Gyökeres stuck to his task and was amply rewarded in style with a pair of much-needed goals.

Those strikes were an exclamation point on an almost flawless night, with a yellow card triggering a suspension for Martin Zubimendi the only sour note.

Here are the Arsenal player ratings from a superb night's work.

Arsenal 4-0 Atletico Madrid Player Ratings

Goalkeeper & Defenders

David Raya (GK) - 5/10 - He's been playing like the best goalkeeper in the world, so Raya might be entitled to an off night. The Spaniard didn't start well when he sprinted far enough to make the Arsenal box a dot in the distance, barely retreating in time to prevent Atletico trying to score from the quick throw. Only inaccuracy from Julian Alvarez spared Raya's blushes.

Jurrien Timber (RB) - 7/10 - A steady seven out of 10 is almost a below-par performance from Timber. Such are the standards set by the Dutch right-back in recent weeks, but Timber couldn't influence the play enough in forward areas, even though he stayed strong at the back.

William Saliba (CB) - 6/10 - He gave away one too many fouls, but Saliba was quick enough across the deck to thwart any attempt by Atletico to counter rapidly.

Gabriel Magalhaes - 9/10 - The goalscorer once again confirmed two things. One, he's a demon in set-piece situations, evidenced by the towering header to direct Rice's cross beyond Oblak. Two, Gabriel's strong and steady defensive work endorsed the idea that although he doesn't get the same positive press as Saliba, the Brazilian is the true indispensable leader of the Arsenal rearguard.

Myles Lewis-Skelly - 8/10 - He's been overshadowed by the return to fitness and form of Riccardo Calafiori, but Lewis-Skelly reminded observers he's still an ascending talent for a variety of reasons. Including an irrepressible engine and the attacking intuition to make his forways into the final third count, like with his assist for Arsenal's second.

Midfielders

Martin Zubimendi (DM) - 6/10 - His booking in the first half will rule him out of Arsenal's next European duty against Slavia Prague, but Zubimendi was otherwise a model of efficiency at the base of midfield. Smart and selective in possession, his influence is growing with every game.

Delcan Rice (CM) - 8/10 - The Zubimendi effect is showing up best in the performances of fellow midfielder Rice. He now has the freedom of a roving brief to be the hard-charger Arteta's press-crazed grand design needs. Rice is also still producing those devilish set-piece deliveries just for good measure.

Eberechi Eze (AM) - 6/10 - Some neat touches and deft passes offered hints of what Eze will do once he's more at home as Arsenal's creator-in-chief. Until then, the Gunners' No. 10's form remains erratic, with the dial just about trending upwards.

Forwards

Bukayo Saka (RW) - 9/10 - This was vintage Saka. He was buzzing, bewildering and brilliant, slaloming through Atletico at will and generating excellent creative output. Only some genuine end product was missing from a near perfect 10 performance.

Viktor Gyökeres (ST) - 9/10 - If you listen very carefully, you'll hear the huge sigh of relief emanating from the corridors of power at the Emirates Stadium that Gyökeres is finally back among the goals. He'd gone seven matches without finding the net, but Gyökeres is nothing if not resilient, a natural tenacity that paid off when he forced his own luck for his first goal, then provided a true goal-hanger's finish to complete his brace.

Gabriel Martinelli (LW) - 8/10 - Martinelli's comeback tour continued unabated with a display to sum up what makes him a special talent. He has pace to burn, is direct and has rediscovered an appetite for goal, qualities the visitors failed to cope with all night.

Substitutes

• Cristhian Mosquera - 5/10
• Christian Nørgaard - 5/10
• Ethan Nwaneri - 4/10
• Mikel Merino - 4/10

Player of the match: Viktor Gyökeres