Arsenal vs Atlético Madrid Player Ratings: Gyökeres Rated 9.5/10, Martinelli and Rice Impress

What a night at the Emirates Stadium. From our perspective, this was a classic tale of two halves in the Champions League. Arsenal and Atlético Madrid went into the break locked at 0-0, in what felt like a cagey, tactical affair. We noticed Atlético looked comfortable soaking up pressure, and Arsenal, for all their possession, lacked that final, killer touch.

Then the second half happened. It was an absolute explosion. Arsenal came out with a completely different energy, and once Gabriel Magalhães powered home that header in the 57th minute, the floodgates just burst open. It was a demolition job, plain and simple. The Spanish side completely crumbled under the relentless pressure.

The goals from Gabriel Martinelli and a quick-fire double from the sensational Viktor Gyökeres sealed a stunning 4-0 win. This wasn't just a victory; it was a statement. For a team known for its defensive grit, Atlético Madrid looked shockingly disorganized and fragile. We have to give credit to Arteta's men for their breathtaking second-half performance in this memorable match.

Arsenal Player Ratings vs Atlético Madrid

Goalkeeper

David Raya - 7.0: Had a very quiet evening for the most part. He was a spectator for large spells but stayed alert when called upon. Made a crucial save from Thiago Almada late in the game to preserve his clean sheet. His distribution was solid, initiating attacks from the back with confidence. A comfortable and composed performance.

Defenders

William Saliba - 7.0: A typically calm and collected display from the Frenchman. He wasn't tested much, but what he had to do, he did with minimal fuss. Lost a surprising number of aerial duels but his positioning was excellent. He just oozes class and never looked panicked against the Atleti attackers.

Gabriel Magalhães - 9.0: What a colossal performance. He opened the scoring with a thunderous header that changed the entire complexion of the match. Not content with that, he then provided an assist for Gyökeres. Defensively, he was a rock until he was subbed off for a well-deserved rest. An absolute monster at both ends of the pitch.

Jurriën Timber - 7.5: A very busy and effective performance from the Dutchman. He was a constant outlet on the flank, creating a couple of good chances. He was a little reckless at times, committing three fouls, but his energy was infectious. His forward runs caused problems for Atlético all night before he was subbed off.

Myles Lewis-Skelly - 8.0: What stood out to us was his maturity. The youngster looked right at home on the big stage. He grabbed a clever assist for Martinelli's goal and was defensively sound. His four duel wins and two clearances show he wasn't afraid to get stuck in. A very impressive display that bodes well for his future.

Midfielders

Declan Rice - 8.5: The engine of the team. He was simply everywhere, dominating the midfield battle. His cross for Gabriel's opener was picture-perfect. He controlled the tempo of the game, broke up play, and drove his team forward relentlessly. A complete midfield performance.

Martín Zubimendi - 8.0: The conductor in the middle of the park. From our perspective, he made everything tick for Arsenal before his substitution. He created three chances, including a big one, and kept possession moving beautifully. The yellow card was the only minor blemish on an otherwise superb outing.

Eberechi Eze - 7.5: Added that bit of flair and unpredictability to Arsenal's attack. He was always looking to create, linking up well with the forwards. He hit the woodwork and was a constant thorn in Atlético Madrid's side. It was his creativity that helped unlock a stubborn defence in the first half.

Forwards

Bukayo Saka - 7.5: While he didn't get on the scoresheet, he was a menace throughout. He was constantly running at the defence, drawing players to him and creating space for others. He had five shots and was always involved. Maybe a little wasteful, but his impact was undeniable.

Gabriel Martinelli - 8.0: He deserved his goal. He worked tirelessly, making intelligent runs and pressing with intensity. His finish was cool and composed, capping off a great performance. Recovered the ball eight times, showing his immense work rate off the ball.

Viktor Gyökeres - 9.5: Man of the Match, without a shadow of a doubt. The Swede was simply unplayable. He was a physical nightmare for the Atlético defence, and his finishing was clinical. Two well-taken goals turned a good win into a rout. He was the focal point of the attack and delivered in spectacular fashion.

Substitutes

Cristhian Mosquera - 6.5: Came on when the game was already won. Slotted in seamlessly and helped see out the clean sheet.

Ethan Nwaneri - 6.5: Looked bright and confident in his cameo, keeping the pressure on the tired Atlético defence.

Christian Nørgaard - 6.5: Provided fresh legs in midfield to ensure there were no late slip-ups.

Ben White - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Mikel Merino - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Manager

M. Arteta - 9.0: His half-time team talk must have been legendary. He identified the weaknesses in the Atlético setup and his team came out and ruthlessly exploited them. The tactical switch-up in the second half was a stroke of genius that completely blew Simeone's side away. A managerial masterclass.

Atlético Madrid Player Ratings vs Arsenal

Goalkeeper

Jan Oblak - 5.5: It feels harsh to criticise him too much. He conceded four goals, but he also made four saves to stop it from being six or seven. He was left horribly exposed by his defence in the second half. A night he'll want to forget, but it could have been even worse without him.

Defenders

José María Giménez - 5.0: Looked okay in the first half but completely lost his way in the second. He picked up a silly yellow card and was part of a defence that just fell apart. Substituted shortly after the first goal, which says it all. He was supposed to be the leader at the back.

Dávid Hancko - 4.5: A really difficult night for him. He was dribbled past three times and struggled with the movement of Arsenal's forwards. He looked off the pace and was caught out of position for a couple of the goals. A performance to forget.

Robin Le Normand - 4.0: We noticed he was under pressure all game, making eight clearances. However, he looked clumsy, committed needless fouls, and earned a yellow card. He was simply overwhelmed by the pace and power of Gyökeres. A very poor showing.

Marcos Llorente - 4.0: Arguably the worst performer on the pitch. He offered absolutely nothing going forward and was a liability defensively. Dribbled past twice and just couldn't get a foothold in the game. A passenger for the entire 90 minutes.

Midfielders

Koke - 5.5: The captain tried his best to hold the midfield together, but he was fighting a losing battle. He was overrun by Rice and Zubimendi. He was neat in possession but offered little resistance as Arsenal rampaged through the middle. His substitution felt inevitable.

Pablo Barrios - 5.0: He played the full game but had little to no impact. Lost possession 10 times and was part of a midfield that was completely dominated. He worked, but without any real effect. Looked lost in the second-half onslaught.

Nico González - 4.5: A really poor display. He was responsible for an error that led to a shot and was dribbled past twice with ease. He looked out of his depth and was hooked after an hour. He couldn't handle the intensity.

Giuliano Simeone - 6.0: One of the few Atlético players who can hold his head up. He showed some fight, winning most of his duels and making some good tackles. He tried to make things happen but was let down by the quality around him. At least he showed some spirit.

Forwards

Alexander Sørloth - 5.0: Completely anonymous. He was isolated and starved of service, managing only 18 touches before being substituted. He won a few headers but offered no threat whatsoever. A thankless task for him on the night.

Julián Alvarez - 5.5: He was a busy player, creating four chances for his team. However, his final product was lacking, and he lost the ball an alarming 17 times. You could see his frustration growing as the game went on. He tried, but nothing came off for him.

Substitutes

Conor Gallagher - 5.0: Came on and ran around a lot but couldn't stem the tide. The game was already getting away from his team.

Álex Baena - 5.5: Added a bit more quality in possession but the damage was long done.

Matteo Ruggeri - 5.0: Brought on to shore things up but couldn't stop the Arsenal onslaught.

Thiago Almada - 6.0: Looked lively and forced a good save from Raya. One of the few bright sparks.

Antoine Griezmann - N/A: On the pitch for a short time and barely touched the ball.

Manager

D. Simeone - 4.0: From our perspective, this was a shocking display from a Simeone team. To see his side capitulate so completely in the second half was astounding. His team is built on defensive solidity, and they had none. His substitutions were ineffective and he had no answer to Arsenal's second-half blitz.