Diego Simeone hailed Arsenal as the ‘best team’ Atletico Madrid have faced this season after his side were beaten 4-0 at the Emirates Stadium in the Champions League.
The European clash was goalless at half-time but Arsenal scored four goals in 13 second-half minutes to pull well clear of La Liga side Atletico.
Gabriel Magalhaes broke the deadlock on the hour mark as Arsenal’s dominance from set-pieces once again proved crucial.
Fellow Brazilian Gabriel Martinelli doubled the hosts’ lead less than ten minutes later following a superb run from England’s Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Already in control of the game, two goals from Viktor Gyokeres in three minutes capped off a brilliant night for the Gunners, who are joint-top of the Champions League after three matches.
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Following Atletico Madrid’s heaviest Champions League defeat, Simeone hailed Arsenal as the ‘best team’ his side have faced this season.
That represents huge praise from Simeone considering Atletico have already played Premier League champions Liverpool and La Liga giants Real Madrid this term.
Asked whether Arsenal are the best team Atletico Madrid have played this season, Simeone told Amazon Prime through a translator: ‘Yes I would say the best team we have faced this season.
‘They compete so well, their players run and run and they have quality all over the pitch. They deserved to win today and I want to congratulate them.’
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, meanwhile, insisted he was ‘very happy’ after watching his team maintain their perfect start to this year’s Champions League.
‘It was a tough match,’ he said. ‘After the goal they opened up a bit and it was a little easier for us to find the spaces.
‘I’m very happy with the result. At this level in the Champions League you really need to step up and we certainly did that in every phase of the play. Very happy.’
On Gyokeres, who ended a nine-game drought without a goal with his brace against Atletico, Arteta added: ‘Delighted as he fully deserved it.
‘The work-rate he brings to the team is outstanding. We value a lot of things that he does for the team and it was the biggest smile on his face today and look at his team-mates.
‘Hopefully this is the start of some beautiful sequence for him.’
More to follow…
