Arsenal thrashed Atlético Madrid 4-0 in a Champions League match in London, showcasing dominance in set pieces. Two of the four goals came from dead-ball situations, exposing Simeone's team's weaknesses. The Argentine coach admitted the Gunners' superiority, highlighting Atlético's poor away record.
The match, played on October 21, 2025, at London's Emirates Stadium, saw Arsenal dictate the pace from the start. Atlético held out for less than an hour with a conservative setup, pairing Sorloth with Julián Álvarez while benching Baena, Griezmann, and Almada to focus on defense. However, a free kick from Declan Rice allowed Gabriel to open the scoring at the near post, slipping between Nico González and Giménez.
The dominance intensified in the second half. Gabriel assisted Martinelli for the 2-0 with a curving shot that beat Oblak, raising questions about the Slovenian's current form. Viktor Gyökeres, the Swede with a masked celebration, headed two goals in the six-yard box, battling Giménez and Le Normand, bringing his season tally to five. Two of the four goals were from set pieces, an area where Arsenal has netted 102 since Nicolás Jover's arrival in 2021, and 10 already this season.
Diego Simeone conceded: 'They are better right now.' On Sorloth, the tallest on the pitch at 1.93 meters with an average of 183 cm per team, he said: 'We didn't put him in for defensive set pieces. It was more for offensive crosses.' Mikel Arteta noted: 'Once we've generated chaos, we've had more opportunities to hurt them.' Atlético captain Koke called it a 'misleading result,' and Arsenal keeper David Raya was surprised by the four set-piece goals against a defensive Atlético.
This setback worsens Atlético's away record: no wins in seven games outside the Metropolitano, with losses in Cornellà, Liverpool, and now London, plus draws in Elche, Vitoria, Mallorca, and Vigo. Simeone emphasized: 'It's not bad luck, it's mistakes. Details are decisive.' Arsenal, without injured Ødegaard, chose Eze over Merino for more creativity, solidifying their ambition under Arteta.