Match Report: Atalanta 0-0 Arsenal – As David Raya’s penalty heroics sees Arsenal earn a point
Match Report: Atalanta 0-0 Arsenal – As David Raya’s penalty heroics sees Arsenal earn a point. The UEFA Champions League 2024/2025 campaign continues with today’s openers, and here’s a report on the the encounter between Atalanta vs Arsenal.
It was Arsenal’s number one David Raya, with a mind-blowing performance tonight, pulling off a double save as Mikel Arteta‘s men ground out a 0-0 draw against Atalanta BC, in their opening Champions League league phase contest.
La Dea may have mercilessly torn apart Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen in last year’s Europa League, but the hosts were held back against a defensively resolute Arsenal side, who were quintessentially rigid and structured at the back.
The Gunners also didn’t offer much in attack during the first half, where it seemed the absence of captain Martin Odegaard was well and truly felt, as Atalanta’s backline matched up well to the visitors’ offence.
Gasperini’s goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi was only really forced into one meaningful action in the first half, getting down low to his right to keep out a well-hit Bukayo Saka free kick, but Arsenal were often their own worst enemies in the final third too.
After both sides cancelled each other out to the maximum in the first half, it took just three minutes of the second for the first serious talking point of the match, as Thomas Partey clipped Ederson inside the box and conceded a penalty.
However, Mateo Retegui failed to convert from the spot, as he was denied not once, but twice by the impenetrable David Raya, who astonishingly kept out his initial spot kick, alongside his follow-up off the line, rivalling his magnificent reaction save against Aston Villa last month.
The dumbfounded hosts continued to pile the pressure on as the clock ran down, with ex-Chelsea player Juan Cuadrado going close on a couple of occasions, but Arsenal’s well disciplined defence, stood firm yet again to preserve a well-earned point.
Even though the visitors were as reliable as ever at the back, their attacking play left a lot to be desired all evening long, not helped by sloppiness and poor ball retention all over the shop.
What’s next for both teams?
Arsenal travel to Manchester City on Sunday for the biggest game of the campaign so far, as they tackle the reigning champions at the Etihad Stadium, while Atalanta on the other hand, welcome newly promoted side Como at the Gewiss Stadium next month, as they look to straighten things up, having won 2, and lost 2 of their opening 4 league games.
