Champions League
Conference League
Premier League
Published on Sep, 19 2024
The first week of Champions League football comes to an end on Thursday night with the Europa League champions Atalanta welcoming Arsenal to Bergamo in the midst of a pivotal week for the Gunners. Having ground out victory at Tottenham on Sunday, Mikel Arteta's side begin their European campaign with half an eye on Sunday and their visit to Manchester City.
That is not to say they will take Atalanta lightly. Gianpiero Gasperini's side have been a little slow out of the blocks in the early rounds of Serie A games but a thrilling win over Fiorentina -- five goals scored, all in the first half -- was a reminder of the threat they can pose. Even high-level defenses can be tested, but will that include an Arsenal one that might just be the best in the business? We will find out on Thursday.
Atalanta: Arsenal (h), Shakhtar Donetsk (a), Celtic (h), Stuttgart (a), Young Boys (a), Real Madrid (h), Sturm Graz (h), Barcelona (a)
Arsenal: Atalanta (a), Paris Saint-Germain (h), Shakhtar Donetsk (h), Inter (a), Sporting (a), Monaco (h), Dinamo Zagreb (h), Girona (a)
Atalanta: A few issues in defense have cropped up as Gasperini readies his side for a return to the Champions League for the first time in three years, Rafael Toloi out with a thigh issue and Ben Godfrey struggling with a back issue that has limited his availability since he first arrived from Everton. Further forward there are plenty of options to choose from in what will likely be an attacking display.
Possible Atalanta XI: Carnesecchi; De Roon, Hien, Kolasinac; Bellanova, Pasalic, Ederson, Ruggeri; Lookman, De Ketelaere; Retegui
Arsenal: The injury crisis in north London is not particularly easing. Riccardo Calafiori was in training on Tuesday after withdrawing from the derby late on but there was no sign of Takehiro Tomiyasu, Kieran Tierney, Mikel Merino or Oleksandr Zinchenko. Most significantly of all Martin Odegaard's ankle issue looks likely to sideline him for some time yet. "After recent scans, the scans showed that he's got some damage, especially on one of the ligaments in the ankle," said Arteta. "It's something quite significant so we're going to lose him for a while." Arsenal's hope is that that timescale does not run into months plural.
Then there is the question of whether any adjustments need to be made with a view to Sunday's trip to Manchester City. Can either or both of Thomas Partey and Jorginho make three starts in a week? If not, will the one who starts on Thursday find themselves on the bench for what will be a crucial clash in the battle for the Premier League title?
Possible Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Jorginho, Havertz, Rice; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli
Arsenal still seem to have some issues -- perhaps overstated -- against high-grade European opposition and that may continue in Italy. PICK: Atalanta 2, Arsenal 2
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