Arsenal make Champions League statement and what else we learned after Atletico Madrid thrashing

It might come as no shock to see that was it was a set-piece that got the rout underway when Declan Rice's free-kick was headed home by Gabriel just before the hour-mark.

What will leave jaws on the floor is the manner in which Atletico collapsed, conceding a further three goals in no time at all to see Arsenal run rampant.

Gabriel Martinelli quickly doubled Arsenal's lead after the Rojiblancos backed off Myles Lewis-Skelly, who fed the Brazilian for a first-time shot past Jan Oblak.

Atletico's defence, often noted for his compactness and organisation, was in disarray when a Martinelli cross bundled off Eberechi Eze to reach Viktor Gyokeres, who scored his first Champions League goal for the Gunners with a slice of luck.

The Swede followed that up with another goal moments later from a set-piece, getting any touch after Gabriel headed the ball back across the goalmouth.

It was a devastating victory for Mikel Arteta, whose side have now managed nine points out of nine in the Champions League and look good value to qualify for the latter stages of the competition without a play-off. But what did we learn?

Gyokeres gets a confidence booster

Ask any Arsenal fan their opinion of new signing Gyokeres and they will defend him with their lives, and they are not wrong to do so.

The Sweden international is a bruising force up front, a bit of a throwback to the likes of John Hartson at Highbury, and he does not stop working.

But the striker is missing one thing: goals.

It is early days for Gyokeres at the Emirates and he just needs that stroke of luck to get himself out of a slump; something he exactly got against Atletico.

A bit of box pinball saw the ball fall to the 27-year-old's feet, some nimble footwork and a clumsy shot saw the ball trickle past Jan Oblak to give Arsenal an unassailable three-goal lead.

This was his first Champions League goal for his new club since signing in the summer for £65million, and it proved the perfect confidence booster as he grabbed his second moments later from - you guessed it - a corner.

Champions League statement

Arsenal reached the semi-finals of the Champions League last season, a fine achievement that saw them swat aside European royalty in Real Madrid along the way.

This time, it was the other side of the Spanish capital that felt the wrath of the Gunners, being blasted to pieces with no reply.

Atletico Madrid are certainly no pushovers and are renowned for spoiling the party for Europe's best on a yearly basis with the wily Simeone in charge.

To knock four past them is no easy feat and fans leaving the Emirates on Tuesday night might have dreams of going one further this season and reaching the final.

The last time Arsenal did so was 20 years ago in 2006 when they were beaten by Barcelona - can the London side go one better in Budapest next year?

Mikel Arteta tactical masterclass

Credit where it is due, Arteta got his tactics spot on against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night.

The Spanish side have talent littered all over the pitch, spearheaded by the dangerous Julian Alvaraz, destined to be the long-term successor to Antoine Griezmann at the Wanda Metropolitano.

But Arsenal were better than Atletico in every department. They outmuscled them, they outran them, they outplayed them.

Even the little niggly free-kicks that Atletico seem to absorb in Europe were going Arsenal's way.

If you have conquered the dark arts against these lot, that is saying something - Arteta out-Simeone'd Simeone.