Arsenal’s continued quest for their first Champions League triumph sees them face Europa League winners Atalanta in their first continental clash of the 2024/25 season.
The Gunners head into Thursday’s battle in Bergamo with bragging rights in the bag after Sunday’s Victory away from home by 1-0 in the North London derby with Tottenham Hotspur. The result moved them into second place in the Premier League and within two points of defending champions Manchester City ahead of the two teams meeting this weekend.
Mikel Arteta’s team reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League last season, but were knocked out in the round of 16 by Bayern Munich. In this term’s extended competition, the Gunners will aim to improve on their 2023/24 performance.
Atalanta will be a tough test in Arsenal’s return to Europe. Having won the Europa League last season, La Dea have made a mixed start to the season, recovering from two successive defeats to beat Fiorentina 3-2 at the weekend. Gian Piero Gasperini’s side have already played on the continent this campaign, losing 2-0 to Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup.
Here’s your guide to Arsenal’s trip to Italy this Thursday.
location: Bergamo, Italy
stadium: Undoubtedly stage
date: Thursday, September 19
Start time: 20:00 BST / 15:00 ET / 12:00 OT
referee: Clement Turpin (FRA)
WAS: Jerome Brisard (FRA)
Atalanta vs Arsenal H2H Record
Atalanta and Arsenal have never played each other in a competitive match.
Current form (all competitions)
|
Atalanta |
arsenal |
|---|---|
|
Atalanta 3-2 Fiorentina – 15/09/24 |
Tottenham – Arsenal 0-1 – 15/09/24 |
|
Inter 4-0 Atalanta – 30/08/24 |
Arsenal 1-1 Brighton – 31/08/24 |
|
Torino 2-1 Atalanta – 25/08/24 |
Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal – 24/08/24 |
|
Lecce 0-4 Atalanta – 19/08/24 |
Arsenal 2-0 Wolves – 17/08/24 |
|
Real Madrid 2-0 Atalanta – 14/08/24 |
Arsenal 2-0 Lyon – 08/11/24 |
|
country |
TV channel/live broadcast |
|---|---|
|
united kingdom |
Application TNT Sports 1, discovery+, discovery+ |
|
united states |
Paramount+, ViX |
|
canada |
DAZN |
Atalanta are missing some key contributors, with former West Ham United striker Gianluca Scamacca a big absentee following his ACL injury. Highly rated defender Giorgio Scalvini is missing with the same problem.
Former Everton defender Ben Godfrey and experienced centre-back Rafael Toloi are both sidelined for the next few weeks, paving the way for Sead Kolasinac to line up against his former employers in Bergamo.
Summer signing Mateo Retegui has started life in a flash at the Gewiss Stadium, scoring four Serie A goals in as many games, and Ademola Lookman, who scored a hat-trick last season. Europa League final – will look for the first goal against Arsenal in his fifth attempt.
Atalanta expected line-up against Arsenal (3-4-2-1): Carnesecchi; Djimsiti, Hien, Kolasinac; Bellanova, De Roon, Ederson, Ruggeri; From Ketelaere, Lookman; Retegui
Martin Odegaard missed Sunday’s North London derby after picking up an injury during the international break and will be out again on Thursday. The Norwegian has company in the treatment room in the form of Mikel Merino and Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Bukayo Saka left the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with an injury, but it remains to be seen how serious his problem is ahead of Thursday’s clash. The Englishman is very robust and rarely misses matches.
Gabriel Jesus returned against Spurs but Riccardo Calafiori, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Kieran Tierney missed the trip. The good news for Arteta is that he welcomes Declan Rice back into his starting line-up after he missed the trip to Tottenham through suspension.
Arsenal predicted line-up against Atalanta (4-3-3): Stripe; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Rice, Partey, Havertz; Saka, Jesus, Trossard.
Atalanta proved their worth in the Europa League last season with wins against Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen en route to the trophy, keeping clean sheets in two convincing 3-0 victories. However, their man-to-man system that tries to stifle the opposition leaves them open at the back if their opponents are brave on the ball.
arsenal they are an incredibly press-resistant side with excellent coaches and calm bosses, like Serie A champions Inter, who scored four unanswered goals against Atalanta earlier this season. With the sternest defense in Europe, the Gunners are heavy favorites for their tricky trip to Bergamo.
