Arsenal continue to show that they are not joking in this year’s League Phase of the Champions League. With an impressive performance in the second half, the “Gunners” swept Atletico Madrid 4-0 at the packed “Emirates” and remained absolute at the top of the group, confirming that London is once again burning with European ambitions.

The final score may seem heavy, but for 45 minutes the match was balanced on a tight rope. Mikel Arteta’s team had the initiative, moved the ball patiently and gradually pressured the Spaniards, but without finding a way to “unlock” Diego Simeone’s organized defense. The biggest moment in the first half belonged, in fact, to the Madrid team: in the 49th minute, Argentine forward Julián Álvarez sent the ball into David Raya’s crossbar with a powerful shot from outside the area, warning the home team that a moment of inaction could cost them.

However, instead of freezing, the Londoners woke up. Within thirteen explosive minutes, Arsenal turned the game into a show of strength and tactical superiority.

The start came in the 57th minute, when central defender Gabriel rose higher than everyone else and, with a powerful header, after executing a free kick, sent the ball into the net of Slovenian goalkeeper Jan Oblak for 1-0. This goal opened the gates of a storm.

In the 64th minute, young international left-back Lewis-Skelly made a stunning run from the right, passing to Brazilian winger Martinelli, who with an impeccable placement doubled the goals and set the “Emirates” alight. Three minutes later, 26-year-old Swedish forward Victor Gyokeres, who until now had been searching for his first European goal, took advantage of the visitors’ defensive inertia and made it 3-0 from close range.

The ultimate take-off came in the 70th minute, again from a free kick.Gyokeres was in the right place at the right time and with a shot into an empty net he signed the final 4-0, putting his own stamp on a night of triumph.

Arsenal finished the game in a state of apotheosis, with their fans chanting rhythmically “We’re top of Europe,” while Simeone watched his team sink into insecurity and inability to react. With three wins in as many games and an overall score of 10-1, the “Gunners” look more mature than ever to claim something very big in Europe — and this night against Atletico was their most resounding statement to date.