Antoine Griezmann, the Atlético Madrid star, could hardly contain his admiration after the clash with Arsenal. “I’ve faced Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé countless times,” he admitted, “but what that guy did yesterday was something else entirely. I’ve never gone up against a player like that in my whole career.” His words echoed the sentiments of many who watched Arsenal’s dominant display, a match where the Gunners delivered near perfection — apart from a minor slip from David Raya and a hopeful attempt by Julián Álvarez, Atlético never truly threatened them. Arsenal’s control was absolute, securing their third European victory of the season in grand style.
Everywhere you looked, Arsenal players shone, but a few figures stood a little taller than the rest. Declan Rice, calm yet commanding, once again proved why he’s the beating heart of Arteta’s midfield. Alongside him, Eberechi Eze and Martin Zubimendi delivered brilliance in support, but it was Rice’s composure and relentless drive that made the difference. He seemed to glide across the pitch, extinguishing Atlético’s attacks before they could spark, and then instantly turning defence into deadly forward play.
Rice’s performance was the embodiment of balance — strength, vision, and precision rolled into one. His delivery from set-pieces was razor-sharp, his passing crisp and confident. It was his exquisite free-kick that created Arsenal’s opening goal, and later in the game, he nearly bagged another assist with a similarly perfect delivery. The Sun’s Jordan Davies awarded him an 8/10, calling his performance “near flawless.”
And rightly so — the numbers backed it up. Across 93 minutes, Rice created two big chances, completed 45 out of 46 passes, and hit a spotless 100% accuracy rate with his long balls. He contributed on both ends of the pitch, collecting interceptions, clearances, and recoveries while orchestrating attacks like a seasoned general. It was another world-class performance that cemented his reputation as one of the finest midfielders in the game today.
But even in such a performance-packed night, one man managed to steal a little extra light — Gabriel Magalhães. The Brazilian was a fortress, a colossus in both boxes, and a nightmare for Atlético’s forwards. He opened the scoring with a thumping header from Rice’s free-kick, then returned just minutes later to assist Viktor Gyökeres’ goal with another dominant aerial win. In both defence and attack, Gabriel was everywhere, commanding and unshakable.
Statman Dave went as far as calling Gabriel “one of the best defenders on the planet,” a statement that didn’t feel exaggerated. The numbers reinforced the praise: in just 72 minutes, Gabriel posted a combined expected goals and assists of 0.54, won every ground duel, blocked shots, and maintained 90% passing accuracy. The Sun gave him a 9/10 — the mark of a player at his peak powers.
For Arsenal, it was a night that will be remembered not just for the scoreline, but for the statement it made. Griezmann’s confession summed it up perfectly — even players who’ve faced the likes of Mbappé and Yamal found themselves in awe. With Rice controlling the middle and Gabriel dominating the back, Arsenal didn’t just win a football match — they announced themselves as a team filled with world-class warriors, ready to take on anyone.
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