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Arsenal begin Champions League campaign with draw away to Atalanta
Raya makes extraordinary double save - including keeping out penalty - to earn Gunners draw
Monaco stun 10-man Barcelona, plus wins for Atletico Madrid & Brest
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Image source, Getty ImagesIt's criminal that Raya isn't really put in the same conversation as Alisson and Ederson. The Premier League has the 3 best goalkeepers in the world. And that includes Raya as part of the trio.
Mekaeal
Atalanta 0-0 Arsenal
One positive for Arsenal is that they look to have negotiated this without any additional injuries. Arsenal have worked hard but they've lacked a cutting edge in the final third.
Atalanta 0-0 Arsenal
That attempt by Gabriel Martinelli's (74mins 12secs) was Arsenal's first since the 18th minute (17:36).
Image source, ReutersAtalanta 0-0 Arsenal
Leon Osman
Former Everton and England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live
Juan Cuadrado catches it cleanly. Ademola Lookman is causing all the problems, he's been a real handful for Arsenal to deal with.
From open play I think Martinelli's chance is the biggest of the game. The ball propelled into his path, it's a good first touch but a dreadful effort.
Atalanta 0-0 Arsenal
Robbie Savage
Former Premier League midfielder on TNT Sports
Big chance.
It was a great run from Gabriel Martinelli and he was onside, but when it came to the finish he was off balance. He just has to slow down in those final moments, he is always going at 100 miles per hour.
You work so hard to get in those positions that you need to take those chances, and the manager knows it.
Atalanta 0-0 Arsenal
None of Arsenal's last 54 Champions League matches ended 0-0, since a goalless draw against Marseille at Emirates Stadium on 1 November 2011.
Monaco 2-1 Barcelona
The 10 men of Barcelona have finally conceded another goal. It's a simple ball forwards through the middle of the pitch from Monaco and George Ilenikhena is quick enough to run through and blast a strike goalwards.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who has not had a good night in the away goal, gets a hand to it, but the effort is too powerful for him and in it goes.
Image source, Reuters
Image source, ReutersChances at both ends!
After Juan Cuadrado again goes close from distance, Gabriel Martinelli lifts a great chance inside the box over the bar.
Atalanta 0-0 Arsenal
Atalanta have also made some changes. Nicolo Zaniolo and Raoul Bellanova have been sent on.
Atalanta 0-0 Arsenal
Riccardo Calafiori and Raheem Sterling are on for Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber
Atalanta 0-0 Arsenal
Sound the Raheem Sterling klaxon!
He's getting ready to come on.
Atalanta 0-0 Arsenal
Rio Ferdinand
Former Man Utd defender on TNT Sports
Atalanta have pressed on higher in the last few minutes and are putting a press on second balls and are getting more joy. They have still not made David Raya work [from open play] though.
Atalanta 0-0 Arsenal
Will Arsenal take a point now?
Atalanta are a tough nut to crack. The Gunners face Paris St-Germain in their next Champions League game on 1 October at the Emirates.
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Rezaa Sait: Surely Sterling deserves some game time? Neither Saka nor Martinelli has done anything in this game.
Atalanta 0-0 Arsenal
Leon Osman
Former Everton and England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live
It's a little bit better from Arsenal in their speed as they moved up the pitch in a unit.
They need to take advantage of the moments someone wins their one-v-one duel.
Atalanta 0-0 Arsenal
That's close!
Substitute Juan Cuadrado tries something very special from about 20 yards and it almost comes off as his curling attempt narrowly clears the bar.
It's going to take a moment of quality to win this - and that was very nearly it.
Atletico Madrid 1-1 RB Leipzig
England midfielder Conor Gallagher is on as a substitute for his first Champions League appearance for Atletico Madrid following his move in the summer from Chelsea. He has half an hour to help his side get the three points.
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Great double save from Raya but Retegui puts the header in the only spot Raya has a chance of saving.
Craig, Grimsby
Atalanta 0-0 Arsenal
Still no sign of a goal from either side. Atalanta's fans continue to roar their side forward but Arsenal remain solid.
Monaco 1-1 Barcelona, Atletico Madrid 1-1 RB Leipzig, Brest 2-1 Sturm Graz
Brest have regained the lead against Sturm Graz, thanks to a goal from Abdallah Sima. The Austrians fail to deal with a bouncing ball in their penalty area and that allows Sima to spin, shoot and score.
There have been no goals in any of the three other ongoing Champions League matches in the opening 15 minutes of the second half.
Can Barcelona, who have been a man down for 50 minutes, get a winner away at Monaco?
Image source, Reuters| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 3 |
| |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
| |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 3 |
| |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| |
6 Sparta Prague | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| |
10 Sporting CP | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
|
11 Benfica | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| |
13 Brest | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| |
20 Bologna | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
|
21 Shakhtar Donetsk | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
| |
24 Sturm Graz | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
|
25 Red Star Belgrade | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 0 |
|
26 Girona | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
|
27 PSV | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
|
28 Stuttgart | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
| |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 0 |
| |
31 Club Brugge | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
|
32 Red Bull Salzburg | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
|
33 Young Boys | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
|
34 Slovan Bratislava | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 0 |
|
35 Feyenoord | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | -4 | 0 |
|
36 Dinamo Zagreb | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 9 | -7 | 0 |
|
Manager: Gian Piero Gasperini
Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1
Manager: Mikel Arteta
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
Manager: Gian Piero Gasperini
Formation: 3 - 4 - 2 - 1
Manager: Mikel Arteta
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
UEFA Champions League
All competitions
Atalanta have never previously faced Arsenal in any competition. The Gunners will be the fifth English side they have met in major European competition, after Everton (W2), Man City (D1 L1), Liverpool (W2 L2) and Man Utd (D1 L1).
Arsenal have lost their last three away UEFA Champions League games in Italy, although this is their first trip there since 2013. Those defeats came at Roma (0-1 in 2009), Milan (0-4 in 2012) and Napoli (0-2 in 2013).
Atalanta’s last four UEFA Champions League games – all in the 2021-22 group stage – have seen both them and their opponents score two or more goals (D2 L2). In the entire history of the European Cup, no side has ever both scored and conceded 2+ goals in five consecutive matches.
Arsenal have won their opening match in each of their last six major European campaigns (five in UEFA Europa League and last season’s Champions League). The last side to beat the Gunners in their first game was Dinamo Zagreb in the 2015-16 Champions League.
The 2023/24 UEFA Europa League final – won 3-0 by his side – was Gian Piero Gasperini’s 50th game in charge of Atalanta in major European competition (excluding qualifiers). Gasperini has won just under half of those (48%), with 24 victories from 50 matches (D14 L12).
Only Atlético Madrid (+6.16) overperformed their xG total by a higher figure than Arsenal in last season’s UEFA Champions League (+5.49 – 19 goals from an xG of 13.51), while the Gunners also posted the third-highest shot conversion rate in the competition last term (15.7%), behind only Manchester United (16.9%) and Atlético de Madrid (16.8%).
Atalanta’s 23 UEFA Champions League matches have seen 3.6 goals per game (40 for, 43 against), the second-most of any team to feature 20+ times in the competition, behind Viktoria Plzen (3.8 per game).
Bukayo Saka was involved in eight goals in nine UEFA Champions League appearances for Arsenal in 2023-24 (4 goals, 4 assists), the most by an Englishman in their debut season, breaking the record set by Lee Bowyer for Leeds United in 2000-01 (6 goals, 1 assist).
Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman scored five times in his final three UEFA Europa League starts last season, including a hat-trick in the final against Bayer Leverkusen. Lookman’s never scored in four career appearances against Arsenal, while his only UEFA Champions League appearance was in October 2019 for RB Leipzig against Zenit.
Raheem Sterling could make his UEFA Champions League debut for Arsenal in this game and would become the first player in European Cup history to play for four different English teams, having previously played for Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea. The other four players to play for three are David Batty (Leeds, Blackburn, Newcastle), Yossi Benayoun (Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea), William Gallas (Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs) and Kolo Touré (Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool).
