Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was full of praise for his players following their comprehensive 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.

After a frustrating first half where the Gunners dominated possession but failed to convert, Arsenal exploded in the second half with a clinical attacking display.

Gabriel Magalhães opened the scoring with a powerful header from Declan Rice’s perfectly delivered free-kick. Gabriel Martinelli doubled the lead shortly after with a composed finish, before Viktor Gyökeres sealed the victory with two well-taken goals to complete the rout.

Arteta was full of admiration for his squad’s performance, highlighting the contributions of Myles Lewis-Skelly, Martinelli, Gyökeres, and Rice.

“That’s him, that’s his quality,” Arteta said when asked about Lewis-Skelly’s assist. “The way he carries the ball, his timing, and his decision-making were exceptional. Martinelli was superb as well — it’s fantastic to see the impact both had on the game.”

“I’m delighted for Gyökeres — he fully deserved his goals. The work rate he brings to the team is outstanding. And Declan’s set-piece delivery was top class. We could have scored earlier, but I’m proud of how we maintained our intensity and finished strongly.”

Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone was gracious in defeat, admitting that Arsenal were the superior side on the night.

“I would say they are the best team we’ve faced this season,” Simeone told Amazon Prime. “They compete with intensity, their players never stop running, and they have quality across the pitch. They fully deserved the win, and I congratulate them.”