Mikel Arteta has singled out 4 Arsenal players for praise after his side thrashed Atletico Madrid 4-0 within the Champions League on Tuesday.
Gabriel Magalhaes opened the scoring from Declan Rice’s set-piece with Gabriel Martinelli doubling the lead before Viktor Gyokeres netted twice.
Myles Lewis-Skelly produced a formidable performance with the teenage left-back conjuring up a stupendous assist for Martinelli on 64 minutes.
Arteta hailed Lewis-Skelly together with Martinelli, Gyokeres and Rice in his post-match interview on Amazon after the full-time whistle on the Emirates.
‘That’s him, that’s his quality,’ Arteta said about Lewis-Skelly’s assist. ‘The way in which he carries the ball, the power he has to release the ball in the fitting moment.
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‘Martinelli as well, I believed he was superb today. It’s really good to see the impact they’d on the team.
‘[I am] delighted [for Gyokeres] as he fully deserved it. The workrate he brings to the team is outstanding.
‘We value lots of things that he does for the team and it was the largest smile on his face today and have a look at his team-mates.
‘Hopefully that is the beginning of some beautiful sequences.
‘[Rice’s set-piece delivery] was superb. We could have scored in the primary half – but [we] have that ability to attain those sorts of goals.’
Arteta: It was a troublesome match
Speaking more generally about his team’s victory, Arsenal boss Arteta added: ‘It was a troublesome match.
‘After the goal they opened up a bit and it was a little bit easier for us to search out the spaces. Very joyful with the result.
‘At this level within the Champions League you actually need to step up and we actually did that in every phase of the play. Very joyful.’
Asked about constructing belief with the Arsenal fans, Arteta continued: ‘[These results] create a greater cohesion between ourselves and our supporters.
‘Belief is big in sport. Let’s concentrate on Sunday [against Crystal Palace] now.’
Gyokeres: I’m more than happy!
Arsenal striker Gyokeres, meanwhile, said: ‘I’m more than happy… Each [my] goals were great. I attempt to do my best on a regular basis and work hard, contribute with different stuff and the goals would have come in the end.’
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