Set-piece again, Myles Lewis-Skelly reminder, and what is Eberechi Eze's best position? Arsenal v Atletico Madrid Champions League storylines

React to this story

What did we learn from Arsenal's comprehensive victory over Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League? The Gunners looked frustrated as they went down the tunnel at half-time, but it was a transformation in the second half as, once again, a set-piece unlocked the door for Mikel Arteta and his men. Myles Lewis-Skelly shone on his return, but Eberechi Eze's best role still seems unclear.

Highlights: Gyokeres bags brace as Arsenal thump Atletico Madrid

Video credit: TNT Sports

Set-piece again, ole ole

It was all going so well for Atleti in the first half.

The Spanish side restricted Arsenal to just one corner in the first half, and few presentable free-kicks in and around the box. Was this a conscious tactic of Diego Simeone’s? It did feel, from the eye test, that Atleti were happy to chase and track rather than bite into too many risky tackles - and the stats bore that out, with the visitors only giving away three fouls in the first half.

Transfers

Madrid agree €140m Diomande deal and offer Vinicius Jr new contract - Paper Round

4 hours ago

Secondly, from the set-pieces they did face – and Declan Rice even tried a long throw-in late in the first half – Atleti were clear in their method of aggressive man-marking, with Arsenal’s big men failing to get much joy at all.

But everything changed early in the second 45. Having seen the importance of not giving away free kicks, Marcos Llorente bundled into a needless challenge on Gabriel Martinelli (circled below), who was fairly far out. But it gave Rice the chance to bend in a beautiful ball from wide, and for Gabriel to do the rest.

Atletico Madrid fouls v Arsenal, UCL
Image credit: Opta

Once more, it unlocked a tough game, and gave The Gunners the platform and the confidence to stride to a big win that had looked unlikely at the break.

Lewis-Skelly serves timely reminder

Myles Lewis-Skelly has had to bide his time this season, with Riccardo Calafiori the go-to left-back for Mikel Arteta.

But after impressing once again with Thomas Tuchel's England during the international break, The Gunners' boss clearly felt the time was right to introduce the 19-year-old into the starting line-up.

His first half, like his team's, was tidy but unspectacular, inverting into midfield but finding it tough to have an influence in attacking areas, with much of the play concentrated down the Arsenal right.

That all changed on 64 minutes, however, as he picked up the ball and embarked on a superb surging run before releasing Martinelli, who finished expertly.

There are not many players of Lewis-Skelly's age in world football who can slot into a world-class team, with limited match practice, against a European heavyweight, and hurt them like that.

What is Eze’s best position?

Eberechi Eze started nominally in place of skipper Martin Odegaard as the right-sided eight on Tuesday night. At times in the first half, he was almost looking to push on – certainly offensively – as the second striker, giving Viktor Gyokeres more support.

Was this an attempt by Arteta to give Eze more freedom and get him playing more centrally? With Martinelli out on the left, it felt more like round pegs in round holes.

And Eze did have bright moments, but conspicuously, these seemed to come when the England man was carrying the ball from deeper, and generally from the left, as he struggled at times to pick the lock of Atleti’s two low banks of four when stationed higher up on the right.

Eze heatmap v Atletico Madrid
Image credit: Opta

Beyond tonight, the big question is what Arteta will do with Eze once Odegaard is back fit. Will he change something to get him in the team? Or will he, Rice, Odegaard and Mikel Merino form a quartet of eights that plays in ‘horses for courses’ style, with the aim to keep them fresh and rested?

Stream the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Men’s and Women’s FA Cup and more on TNT Sports and discovery+

Transfers