After reaching last season's Champions League quarter-finals, ousted by Bayern Munich, Arsenal's latest continental crusade commences in Bergamo, where they'll take on last season's Europa League winners.
Atalanta vs Arsenal Preview
With a spring in their step that only a derby win can ever provide, Arsenal travel to Northern Italy for their Champions League opener, but will they leave Bergamo with all three points? On Sunday, Gabriel's towering header saw the Gunners defeat Spurs 1-0 in the North London derby, thereby completing a streak of three consecutive victories at Tottenham for the first time since 1988. This means Mikel Arteta's team have collected ten points from a possible 12 in the Premier League so far, which tees-up Sunday's gargantuan trip to Manchester City perfectly. Before then, the small matter of this Champions League opener, and their hosts are certainly not a team who can be taken lightly.
Atalanta meantime are featuring in the Champions League for the fourth time, debuting as recently as 2019, but their greatest achievement came by winning last season's Europa League, smashing previously unbeatable Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in the final, thanks to Ademola Lookman's hat-trick in Dublin. Since being appointed manager in 2016, Gian Piero Gasperini has completely transformed this club, with that triumph his crowning achievement, ending la Dea's 61-year wait for silverware. So far this season, I Nerazzurri's form has been mixed, winning two and losing two in Serie A, concerningly smashed 4-0 by Inter last month, although they did manage to beat Fiorentina 3-2 at the weekend. So, it won't be easy, but Arsenal are more than capable of leaving Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia with a positive result.
Atalanta vs Arsenal Head-to-Head Record
These two clubs have never previously met.
Atalanta Form Guide: WLLWL
- Atalanta 3-2 Fiorentina: Serie A
- Internazionale Milano 4-0 Atalanta: Serie A
- Torino 2-1 Atalanta: Serie A
- Lecce 0-4 Atalanta: Serie A
- Real Madrid 2-0 Atalanta: UEFA Super Cup
Arsenal Form Guide: WDWW
- Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 Arsenal
- Arsenal 1-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
- Aston Villa 0-2 Arsenal
- Arsenal 2-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers
Atalanta Team News
Star striker Gianluca Scamacca is sidelined, having ruptured his ACL in pre-season, while their back-line is also depleted, with Giorgio Scalvini, captain Rafael Tolói and new signing Ben Godfrey also out. As a result, Sead Kolašinac will start against his former side, possibly alongside Odilon Kossounou who's still awaiting his debut. Meanwhile, Mateo Retegui will lead the line, having scored four in four so far, only brought in to replace the injured Scamacca.
Atalanta predicted lineup vs Arsenal: (3-4-2-1): Carnesecchi; Kossounou, Gjimshiti, Kolašinac; Bellanova, Éderson, de Roon, Ruggeri; De Ketelaere, Lookman, Retegui.
Atalanta Player to Watch vs Arsenal
Ademola Lookman goal-scoring exploits in the Europa League Final, and previous Premier League connections, mean he is widely known, but we want to spotlight his inside-forward partner Charles De Ketelaere. The Belgian opened his account for the new campaign at the weekend, having also scored 14 times last season, so he's certainly worth keeping an eye out for.
Arsenal Team News
Martin Ødegaard, Mikel Merino, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney all remain sidelined, while Oleksandr Zinchenko and Riccardo Calafiori are both doubts, after sitting out the win at Spurs, with the latter more likely to be available. In better news, Declan Rice will return, having served his suspension on Sunday, while both Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling could come into the team after weekend cameos, the latter making his debut for the club. Sterling scored four in two appearances, including a hat-trick, against Atalanta five years ago.
Arsenal predicted lineup vs Atalanta: (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Partey, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Sterling, Jesus.
Arsenal Player to Watch vs Atalanta
Bukayo Saka hobbled off towards the end of the North London derby, but there's little doubt in Arsenal supporters' minds that he'll start here, because that's what he does. So far this season, Saka has provided an assist in all four Premier League games while, in the Champions League last year, he racked up four goals and four assists, incrementally becoming one of the best wingers in Europe.
Atalanta vs Arsenal Prediction
We're predicting a hard-fought score draw in Bergamo. Atalanta have lost just five of 33 European home games in front of supporters, while Arsenal won only one of five Champions League away games last season and have a huge game at Man City on Sunday, so may settle for a point to start: Atalanta 1-1 Arsenal.
Atalanta vs Arsenal FAQs - Champions League
How to watch Atalanta vs Arsenal Champions League game on TV channel?
Atalanta vs Arsenal Champions League game will be available on the following TV channels;
- UK: TNT Sports 1
- USA: CBS Golazo Network
- Canada: DAZN Canada
How to watch Atalanta vs Arsenal Champions League game on live streaming?
Atalanta vs Arsenal Champions League game will be available on the following streaming services;
- UK: discovery+
- USA: Paramount+
- Canada: DAZN Canada
What is the date and kick-off time for Atalanta vs Arsenal in the Champions League?
Atalanta vs Arsenal takes place on Thursday 19 September 2024, with kick off at 20:00 (BST), 15:00 (ET) & 12:00 (PDT).