Atalanta vs Arsenal – UEFA Champions League – Preview, Team News and Updates

Another day, another blockbuster match up. The UEFA Champions League is a gift that keeps on giving, and tonight is no exception as Arsenal square off against Europa League champions Atalanta in what’s shaping up to be an absolute cracker in Bergamo.

After two days of thrilling action, the Champions League for the very first time will see matches being played on a Thursday. And the marquee match that has everyone excited will be played in Atalanta’s Gewiss Stadium. The Bergamo-based club welcomes Arsenal for their Champions League opener. Both clubs would like to start their European campaign with a positive result. Expect fireworks and fast-paced football because when these two exciting teams meet, it’s bound to be a night to remember. 

Atalanta vs Arsenal – Match Preview 

During his five-year tenure as Arsenal’s head coach, Mikel Arteta has completely transformed the club from a floundering mid-table club to Premier League hopefuls. Furthermore, the Gunners finally ended their six-year wait for Champions League football last season. They finished first in Group B – ahead of RC Lens, PSV Eindhoven and Sevilla – with four wins from six matches. However, the Gunners were knocked out by Bayern Munich at the quarterfinals stage thanks to goals from former Tottenham star, Harry Kane. Despite that heartbreak, Arsenal fans are buzzing with excitement, confident that this season could be the one where they go even further.  

After enjoying an impressive start to the Premier League season – winning 3 and drawing 1 in four Prem games -- Arsenal would look to translate their domestic form into the Champions League. The Gunners come into their match against Atalanta on the back of a hard-fought 1-0 win over arch-rivals, Tottenham Hotspur. Moreover, they have just conceded one goal in their first four Prem games, which is the lowest in the league. Leading into their midweek trip to Lombardy, Arsenal are riding the momentum of six consecutive Premier League away victories, a streak that dates back to last season. 

However, securing a victory against Atalanta at the Gewiss Stadium is anything but simple. La Dea have made the Gewiss Stadium a fortress, losing just four home games in all of 2024. Moreover, Atalanta welcomes back Champions League football just in time, as they have finished renovation work of the Gewiss Stadium. The Bergamo-based club returns to the Champions League after clinching their first-ever Europa League trophy earlier this year thanks to a 3-0 win over hitherto invincibles, Bayer Leverkusen.  

But while the Bergamo side may be riding high from that triumph, their recent form tells a different story. Two wins and two losses in their opening Serie A matches, coupled with a 2-0 loss to Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup, show that consistency has been hard to find. La Dea cannot afford such shaky performances in their Champions League opener against Arsenal. The Gunners have the firepower to quickly turn Atalanta’s homecoming into a nightmare if Gian Piero Gasperini's men aren’t at their best. They'll need to channel every bit of energy from their home crowd if they want to pull off a famous win and start their Champions League campaign on the right foot. 

Atalanta vs Arsenal – Team News and Updates 

La Dea will be without two key players for their showdown with Arsenal: Gianluca Scamacca and Giorgio Scalvini, both sidelined with long-term ACL injuries. Defensive issues also linger, as Rafael Toloi (muscle injury) and Ben Godfrey (back issue) were absent from their recent win over Fiorentina. 

However, there’s some good news for Gian Piero Gasperini. Former Arsenal player Sead Kolasinac is back from a thigh injury, and Albania international Berat Djimsiti is also available again. Nicolo Zaniolo returned to the bench on Sunday, potentially bolstering their attack. Ademola Lookman, who netted five goals in his last three Europa League starts, will be supporting Italy's Mateo Retegui up front. However, Lookman has yet to score in four career games against Arsenal. 

For Arsenal, Mikel Arteta gets a boost with the return of Declan Rice, who missed Sunday’s match due to suspension. But it’s not all good news for the Gunners. Their captain, Martin Odegaard, is out with an ankle injury, and Riccardo Calafiori came back from international duty with a calf problem. Mikel Merino, signed in the summer, hasn’t featured since injuring his shoulder during his first training session. 

The most recent setback is Bukayo Saka, who was subbed off during the North London derby with an injury. Saka was directly involved in eight goals during Arsenal’s Champions League run last season, the highest tally by an Englishman in his debut campaign. On top of that, Arsenal’s defensive depth is being tested, with Kieran Tierney (thigh), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee), and Oleksandr Zinchenko (calf) all unavailable. Gabriel Jesus, though, offers a glimmer of hope, having made a late appearance over the weekend after recovering from a thigh injury. 

Atalanta vs Arsenal – Kick-Off Time and Date 

The game is scheduled to take place on 20th September 2024 (Friday) at Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo. The match will kick off at 12:30 AM (Indian Standard Time). 

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