Champions League Preview: Europa League Triumph Boosts Atalanta’s Confidence; Key Players Out and Returning as Arsenal Faces Mixed Fortunes

At 3:00 AM on September 20, the first round of the 2024/25 Champions League stage will see Atalanta host Arsenal. Atalanta, last season’s Europa League champions, have not yet returned to their best form this new season. Currently, they are 2 wins and 2 losses in Serie A, temporarily ranking 9th. This is closely related to the midfield core player Kujala moving to Juventus and Lukman being involved in transfer rumors. Arsenal has had a steady start with 3 wins and 1 draw, keeping an unbeaten record and currently sitting second in the Premier League table. From the current trend, Arsenal remains the second most likely contender for the title after Manchester City in the Premier League this season.

In the previous round, Atalanta narrowly beat Fiorentina 3:2. After a disheartening 0:4 loss to Inter Milan, the team experienced a brief slump but quickly recovered. However, the match against Fiorentina was no easy feat. The scoreline is one aspect; on the pitch, Atalanta was somewhat passive throughout. Fiorentina took the lead twice, only to be quickly equalized by Atalanta, with Lukman’s goal eventually sealing the 3:2 victory. Entering the new season, Atalanta is still striving to recapture the shadow of their stunning performance across Europe last season. This narrow victory restored much of their confidence.

After the international break, several key players in Arsenal’s squad suffered injuries. Odegaard, Calafiori, and Merino all withdrew from national team matches due to injuries, coupled with Rice’s suspension due to a red card. This directly placed Arsenal at a severe personnel disadvantage in the previous “North London Derby”. Without Odegaard, Arsenal faced significant challenges in organizing attacks and had to adopt a defensive formation, providing an excellent opportunity to test the team’s defense. After withstanding Tottenham’s initial pressure, Arsenal gradually found opportunities in counterattacks. Although Gabriel’s header was not a goal from open play, before this goal, Tottenham began to falter, allowing Arsenal to gradually take control. It must be said that under Arteta’s meticulous guidance, this Arsenal side has become increasingly mature. In last season’s Champions League, Arsenal struggled to eliminate Porto, only to be eliminated by Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals.

In terms of tactical style, Arsenal emphasizes a balanced attack and defense. The central defender duo of Saliba and Gabriel is the backbone of this team, with Havertz acting as the pivot, providing ammunition support from Trossard, Saka, and Martinelli. With multiple key players missing, at best, this is an atypical Arsenal side, lacking the ability to continuously press opponents over 90 minutes. Atalanta excels in efficient counterattacks, where their front four can ignite the fire in the opponent’s penalty area with just three passes. However, the severely damaged attacking organization of Arsenal will make it difficult to provide enough counterattack space for Atalanta.

The two teams have never met in history. However, another statistic shows that Atalanta has encountered English teams 10 times, with a record of 4 wins, 2 draws, and 4 losses. Nonetheless, Atalanta has always been slow starters. They tend to show their true colors midway through the season. Early in the season, Atalanta often needs repeated practical tests to find their rhythm.

Before the game, Atalanta’s head coach Gasperini warned his players not to be blinded by the fact of winning the Europa League last season, followed by praising Arsenal and Arteta. He also admitted that this would be a tough match and did not expect Atalanta to finish in the top 8 of the Champions League stage, although finishing in the top 24 should be manageable. His goal is to secure points in every match. New signing Letegi from Atalanta’s summer window has scored 4 goals in 4 league matches, showing a hot form. The team is currently fully staffed, with only Skamaka and Scalvini, who are seriously injured, out for a long time.

Arsenal’s head coach Arteta reciprocated the praise for Gasperini. Regarding personnel arrangements, he provided mixed results. The bad news is that midfield core player Odegaard has a serious injury and will be out for some time. However, he believes others within the team can replace his role. The good news is that Calafiori has already participated in team training and can play in this match. Additionally, Saka’s issue is not serious, and he can also participate.

An encounter between unfamiliar sides, how will the final result unfold? Will experience prevail, or will the new generation replace the old?

>>”>For more predictions and analysis on this match, click >>>