Arsenal dismantle Atletico Madrid after two Viktor Gyokeres goals: Live updates, reaction – The New York Times

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Arsenal have secured a significant 4-0 Champions League victory against Atletico Madrid today.
After a goalless first half, Gabriel headed home a free kick and Gabriel Martinelli curled in off the post.
Viktor Gyokeres then scored twice in four minutes to give the hosts a thumping victory in north London.
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GO FURTHER
Arsenal 4 Atletico Madrid 0 – What does this win say about Arteta’s side? How big was this for Gyokeres?
The Athletic's Art de Roche and Mark Carey assess the action and key talking points from north London, below.
Enjoy!
GO FURTHER
Arsenal 4 Atletico Madrid 0 – What does this win say about Arteta’s side? How big was this for Gyokeres?
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There’s certainly a case to be made for that tonight.
A very solid performance from the Sweden international even before his goals, with lots of hard work defensively and with running in behind.
He is finding his feet in this system.
The date is December 17, 2022. The location is the Coventry Building Society Arena. A Championship match between Coventry City and Swansea City is taking place, with the home side leading 2-0.
A 24-year-old Viktor Gyokeres is bearing down on goal. He checks onto his right foot and finishes to put Coventry 3-0 up and score his tenth goal of the season.
In celebrating the finish, the striker proceeds to do something that has become his trademark — as the world got to see again twice in quick succession during the second half of Arsenal’s 4-0 Champions League win over Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.
Viktor Gyokeres ended his goal drought against Atletico Madrid and brought out his signature goal celebration.
His team-mate Gabriel, who gave it a whirl last season when Gyokeres was at Sporting, joined in, and it has been repeated across football and in other sports.
But where did his now iconic mask move come from, and why does he do it?
Let's take a look…
You could not blame him for looking like a weight had been lifted when he scored his first goal of the night.
It had been a long time coming and while in the modern game scoring goals is not everything for a striker, people will always talk.
Well, he has quietened those critics for now with a brace tonight.
That has not always been the case for them in this competition but that was a masterclass in effective attacking.
At one point before the first goal it felt as if things were in the balance and Atletico might succeed in frustrating Arteta’s side but then Arsenal went through the gears.
Scoring the first was key — goals two, three and four came as a result of some clinical attacking play coupled with a bit of fortune.
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A sliding-doors moment in this match was not long after half-time, when the brilliant Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez picked the ball up outside the penalty area and let fly with a whizzing long shot.
It fizzed and crackled and dipped through the air, beating the desperate dive of David Raya all ends up, and slammed off the crossbar and away.
So close. Had that gone in, you never know how Diego Simeone and Co might have been able to hustle and grind out a win or a draw with the pressure on Arsenal to break down an away side defending a narrow (potential) lead.
To be frank, I'm not sure Martinelli merited a free kick before the first goal.
Martinelli, and Arsenal fans, were frustrated after several half-challenges on him stopped the momentum of his dribble and as the ball ran away from him, tensions and noise was rising.
Anticipating a crunching challenge from marker Marcos Llorente, Martinelli threw his torso, elbow and all, at Llorente, who stood his ground, absorbed the brunt of the hit and then bounced back to his feet to grab the loose ball.
It wasn't a foul from Martinelli, but he initiated, and dominated, the contact. The Brazilian, having won the physical one-on-one challenge, then yelped in apparent pain and made a song and dance of the apparent foul.
Mikel Arteta sprinted out of his technical area, the Arsenal subs were up in arms, the fans screamed for a set piece and the referee obliged. Not sure it would have been given the other way!
Gabriel headed it in and the momentum was established from there.
A good record to have and won in style, too!
They will be hoping to continue adding to that tally over the remainder of this season.
An impressive performance from Arsenal.
They were made to work hard but then the floodgates opened.
They maintain their perfect start in the Champions League.
90+2’ Arsenal 4-0 Atletico Madrid
He has been heavily involved since coming on.
A good pursuit of the ball and link-up with Merino sees Nwaneri have a decent effort on goal but it is a simple enough save for Oblak.
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89’ Arsenal 4-0 Atletico Madrid
The tempo is petering out a bit as we move towards the end of this match.
If the result stays the same, this will be Atletico’s heaviest Champions League defeat.
86’ Arsenal 4-0 Atletico Madrid
Atletico have woken up a bit now as Nwaneri clears from under his own bar from a Baena cross-shot.
Then Griezmann has a go on goal but it is just wide.
84' Arsenal 4-0 Atletico Madrid
And apologies for bringing these to you late amid the rush of the Arsenal goal flurry.
Arsenal brought on White for Timber alongside Merino, having earlier introduced Norgaard, Nwaneri and Mosquera for Zubimendi, Eze and Gabriel respectively.
Atleti replaced Gimenez, Gonzalez and Koke with Baena, Ruggeri and Gallagher, and more recently Almada and Griezmann trotted on for Simeone and Sorloth.
82’ Arsenal 4-0 Atletico Madrid
He is heading off to rapturous applause as Mikel Merino comes on.
79’ Arsenal 4-0 Atletico Madrid
Atletico have really got to stop giving those away in the final third with all these dangerous set-piece deliveries.
As it happens, Hancko wins a foul of his own in the melee of bodies in the box.
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76’ Arsenal 4-0 Atletico Madrid
It's times like this that elevate the football experience.
A burst of goals in quick succession has buoyed the home crowd. The fourth came via another set piece.
The finish was a little different, bundled in from Gyokeres. His elation looked liberating for him.
72’ Arsenal 4-0 Atletico Madrid
Gabriel Martinelli has now scored in each and every one of Arsenal's three Champions League games this season.
Not a bad record!
72’ Arsenal 4-0 Atletico Madrid
A Rice corner, inswinging and headed back across the box from Gabriel and Gyokeres just has to turn in in the centre.
Gabriel’s run to get to the ball was so good that he got carried all the way to the hoarding — and was probably the last person in the stadium to see that had gone in as he tried to avoid tumbling into the fans.
Another goal involvement for the centre-back.

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