Atalanta vs Arsenal live updates: Heroic Raya penalty save earns goalless draw in Bergamo (original) (raw)

The Briefing: Is Serie A frustrating the Premier League contingent?

So much of the focus on tonight’s game was taken up by Arsenal’s absences in Bergamo. Would they cope as well against Atalanta as against Tottenham, for example? What of the attritional effect ahead of Manchester City at the weekend.

Little attention was instead given to the players Atalanta were without. Giorgio Scalvini missed the Euros with an ACL tear. Gianluca Scamacca, last season’s top scorer, suffered the same injury in pre-season.

All-action midfielder Teun Koopmeiners, who matched Ruud Gullit’s record for goals from midfield by a Dutchman in Serie A, forced a move to Juventus. And yet Atalanta showed on Thursday why they’re still a match for Europe’s elite.

Were it not for Raya’s double save on Retegui, who has started the season in excellent form, they might have recorded another famous win to go with those against Liverpool, Ajax and the previously undefeated Bayer Leverkusen in Dublin in May.

Milan aside, the last two nights of Champions League action have been a good illustration of how competitive Serie A sides are against top Premier League opposition. This gameweek, once again, showed it was no fluke.

Read more below

The Briefing: Where is the creativity without Martin Odegaard?

As was the case in their north London derby win, Arsenal were not throwing waves of attacks at Atalanta. They had encouraging moments, but were comfortable enough to concede possession to the hosts with confidence in their back line.

Their organisation made Atalanta work for their openings, none of which were clear cut in the first half. Arsenal had more of the ball after Raya’s penalty heroics and Jorginho’s introduction off the bench.

But without Martin Odegaard, who plays an integral role in how Arsenal move the ball through the thirds, this being the theme for two successive games is not a major surprise. And they visit the Premier League champions on Sunday.

It will not be a major concern for Arteta considering his side stopped Erling Haaland from scoring in three separate matches last season and prevented Manchester City from having a shot until the 43rd minute on their last visit to the Etihad Stadium.

Read more below

The Briefing: How key were Arsenal’s ball recoveries?

Arsenal’s defence has rightfully received a lot of plaudits in the past 18 months, with William Saliba and Gabriel being the foundation of Arteta’s solidity at the back.

However, each of Arsenal’s outfield players deserve credit for their collective defensive display to prevent Atalanta’s generating a dangerous counter-attack. On the occasions they did give up possession in advanced areas, Arsenal’s forwards were quick to sprint back and recover their shape to support their team-mates.

You could often throw a blanket over their compact structure within seconds of them losing the ball, which must surely please Arteta as much as any other part of their performance in Bergamo.

It shows how tactically astute Arsenal have become in recent seasons — a crucial attribute that will serve them well in their second season back in Europe’s elite competition.

The Briefing: Why was this occasion so special in Bergamo?

When Atalanta first qualified for the Champions League, they played their home games in Milan at San Siro. Covid then hit and, when they qualified for the competition again, games back in Bergamo were held behind closed doors.

The revenue made over those seasons from TV and prize money, as well as a best-in-class player-trading model, was reinvested in turning the Atleti Azzurri d’Italia, a crumbling old bowl with a running track and plexiglass barriers, into the Gewiss stadium, a boxy, bougie modern football arena.

Atalanta’s chief executive Luca Percassi called it a “masterpiece” on RAI radio show La Politica nel Pallone last week. “It’s like a theatre,” Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini told DAZN after his team inaugurated it by coming back from 2-0 down to beat Fiorentina 3-2.

Thursday’s game against Arsenal was the first time Atalanta got to experience it in the Champions League. Italian clubs have lagged behind their European peers in stadium development for decades.

The Gewiss stands as a testament to how well this club has been run for the last eight years.

Read more below

The Briefing: How did Arsenal look to overcome the Atalanta press?

Mikel Arteta would not have been surprised at all by Atalanta’s approach at the Gewiss Stadium. Gian Piero Gasperini‘s side are known for their aggressive, hard-working man-for-man press.

It stifled some of Europe’s best clubs last season, as neither Liverpool nor Bayer Leverkusen had an answer to such an awkward approach during Atalanta’s route to Europa League glory. The best way to overcome the tactical headache? Rotations.

In an attempt to stretch the Atalanta press and confuse their man-marking structure, Arsenal centre-backs William Saliba and Gabriel would split wide across the pitch, while at times, Kai Havertz or Gabriel Jesus would even drop into midfield areas.

In truth, Atalanta adapted well to Arsenal’s antidote with clear communication when passing on their markers. Arsenal were occasionally forced to go long in their build-up — often to little avail.

It was a tactical slugging match of sorts, and although it ended goalless, you would imagine that both managers will be satisfied with the result.

Read more below

The Briefing: How did Raya make those saves?

David Raya is quickly becoming Arsenal’s standout player at the start of this season. His double save from Retegui was spectacular for a few reasons.

Firstly, he picked his side before the striker struck the ball which allowed him to reach it with ease. Secondly, the speed at which he sprung up and across to claw the rebound away from goal showed his reactions at Villa Park last month were not a one-off.

“It is a very repetitive save in training during all my years as a footballer, because we do this exercise of throwing yourself, getting up and going towards another ball,” he explained in a press conference with Spain during the recent international break.

The 29-year-old has now managed it twice in as many months. His crucial saves against Wolves and Brighton have also made his signing look better with each game that passes.

He has conceded only once this season, kept four clean sheets in five games, and established himself as key to this team’s progress.

Matchday discussion: 'Disappointing result for Arsenal'

Arsenal fans have been getting in touch in our matchday discussion, which you can find here.

Jered L said: Disappointing result for Arsenal. Atalanta absolutely thrilled. Great start to the opening round of the Champions League.

Martin B opined: So good defensively (other than Partey), so poor going forward. The former is more important against Manchester City, but I'd like to see more drive up front on Sunday.

While Kal concluded: We have a brilliant goalkeeper and defence that will get us through games like this at times this season. The attack will click again eventually. Not a bad result at all away from home against a decent Atalanta team.

De Roon: 'It was incredible under the lights'

Getty Images

And Atalanta midfielder Marten De Roon echoed the thoughts of his manager.

"It was a very balanced game. In truth, we just had the opportunity with the penalty," he told UEFA.com. "It’s a tough competition full of top teams.

"You could notice the atmosphere from the stands, it was incredible under the lights."

Gasperini: 'We had a great defence and played with personality'

Getty Images

Gian Piero Gasperini was very happy with what he saw from his players this evening and had a word for Retegui despite his penalty miss.

"We had the chance to go 1-0 up, with the penalty and the rebound. It’s a pity because Retegui had a great game," said the Atalanta manager to Sky Sport. "We had a great defence and played with personality. Arsenal are a great side, difficult to beat. We did what we had to do in this game."

Player of the Match: Ederson

Getty Images

Atalanta's Ederson was the recipient of UEFA's Player of the Match award.

Considering the holding midfielder was shown a yellow card just 11 minutes into the match, he did brilliantly to restrain himself the rest of the way while also being the stand-out performer.

He snapped into challenges, recovered the ball well and passed brilliantly on a big night for Atalanta.

After starring in the Europa League final, the Brazilian has added another significant feather to his cap.

How's the table looking?

The Athletic

One Champions League matchday down, and there is the table.

Bayern Munich are top after their 9-2 win on Tuesday. Celtic are second.

The bottom three: Slovan Bratislava, Feyenoord and Dinamo Zagreb, who fired their manager after their thrashing by Bayern.

Champions League results: Barca beaten, Atletico leave it late

Getty Images

This was one of four matches in the late Champions League slot this evening and, fortunately, the other games had goals.

A first-half red card for Eric Garcia left Barcelona facing a mountain to climb, Atletico Madrid came from behind to win in the 90th minute and Brest won on their Champions League debut.

Atalanta 0-0 Arsenal
Atletico Madrid 2-1 RB Leipzig (Griezmann, Gimenez; Sesko)
Brest 2-1 Sturm Graz (Magnetti, Sima; Fernandes)
Monaco 2-1 Barcelona (Akliouche, Ilenikhena; Yamal)

Arteta: Raya's save one of the best I have ever seen

Arteta focused on his side's performance before singling Raya's extraordinary double save out for special praise.

"As expected, a very tough match. Not a nicest (match) to watch because it was a man-to-man game everywhere," the Arsenal manager told TNT Sports. "We started the game really, really well. We were really commanding, played in the areas we wanted to play and created one or two chances.

"And after that, we gave a lot of balls away very simply and we could not create any rhythm or momentum. Apart from the penalty, we conceded almost nothing.

"But in that moment, we needed probably one of the best saves I have ever seen in my career. (Raya) was unbelievable today."

GO FURTHERDavid Raya credits Arsenal goalkeeper coach Inaki Cana after Atalanta double-save

Marten De Roon controlled the midfield

Formerly of Middlesbrough, Atalanta's defensive midfielder Marten De Roon played well tonight. The side based in the north-east of England got relegated in his sole season on Teesside, but that was no reflection on the Dutchman.

De Roon and Ederson locked things up in the middle of the park throughout the match.

They stifled and neutralised an Arsenal midfield containing the likes of Kai Havertz and Declan Rice really well, disciplined and determined work.

Rice: 'We want to win every game, that's the ambition'

Rice then spoke of the desire within the Arsenal dressing room and their Champions League ambitions.

"We want to win every game. That's the ambition of the players, the manager, the club but we have a tough group," he told TNT Sports. "We have really tough games coming.

"We know that we have to win with this format. We've got PSG next at home which will be a great game.

"We take every game at a time, we go back to the Prem now but the Champions League is something we've really set our sights on because we've got the players to do it."

Rice: We defended well but were poor with the ball

An honest appraisal from Declan Rice followed.

"It's tough to win away in the Champions League, really tough," he told TNT Sports. "These are European champions, a really, really tough game. They've had the same manager for nine years and they play a man-to-man game all over the pitch.

"It's not easy so we had to adjust. But the main thing tonight is that we defended well again, our high press was good, but we can be 10 or 15 times better with the ball. We gave the ball away too sloppily when we could have hurt them."

Praise for Arsenal's defensive structure

Arsenal’s outfield players deserve credit for their collective defensive display to prevent Atalanta’s generating a dangerous counter-attack.

On the occasions they did give up possession in advanced areas, Arsenal’s forwards were quick to sprint back and recover their shape to support their team-mates.

You could often throw a blanket over their compact structure within seconds of them losing the ball, which must surely please Arteta as much as any other part of their performance in Bergamo.

... and the second moment of the match

Raya's dramatic plunge to his right to keep out the spot-kick was good, but he went one better as he desperately got back to his feet to dive the other way and claw Retegui's goal-bound header off the line with his left hand.

He was a massive part of why Arsenal kept a clean sheet today, though it was a team effort of course.