Arsenal travel to Atalanta to kick start the European season as the first match of the new UCL league phase takes place this thursday.
Arteta and his Arsenal team are travelling to the city of Bergamo to face reigning Europa League winners Atalanta. The first of the eight matches in the newly remodeled UEFA Champions League group phase or rather we should say the league phase. Anyway both team are on the back of victories in their respective leagues and looking to have a perfect start to their European season. Here is a preview of the match along with confirmed team news from both sides and the potential lineups.
PREVIEW
Arsenal have had a descent start to the season on the field as they remain unbeaten in the league with 3 wins and a draw. Sitting second in the Premier League table with 10 points scored and with the best defensive record in the league conceding only a single goal. But off the field it hasn’t been good. Injuries and suspension has been hitting them like a sledge hammer.
It began with new signing Mikel Merino getting injured before even making debut for his new club. Then came the match against Brighton were they were hit with a red card suspending Declan Rice. During the International break Arsenal lost their captain Martin Odegaard and defender Riccardo Calafiori through different injuries. But on the field, it looks like these roadblocks haven’t affected them at all. As they passed their first challenge last sunday against rivals Tottenham Hotspurs in which they came out victors.
A convincing 0-1 victory which highlighted the excellent defensive tactics put forward by the Gunners. So this will be their second challenge without their captain Martin Odegaard before the big match against Man City.
Atalanta on the other hand have not had the best of the starts to their campaign as they sit 9th on the table with two wins and two losses. They began their campaign with a 4-0 victory against Lecce but faced back to back losses against Torino and Inter in their next two. A 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Italian champions came as some sort of a surprise. Anyways they are back to winning ways with a convincing 3-2 victory against Fiorentina the previous matchday.
TEAM NEWS
ARSENAL
Arsenal have a major boost as Declan Rice has completed his suspension in domestic and european matches from now. He is a major boost in midfield as they can go back and play how they used to play. In addition to that Bukayo Saka and Riccardo Calafiori are back in training and have been included in the matchday squad.
Anyway captain Martin Odegaard will likely be out for significant time with an ankle ligament injury. In addition to that Mikel Merino, Oleksander Zinchenko, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney are all sidelined.
ATALANTA
As of the Italian side they will miss out on Italian internationals Gianluca Scamacca and Georgio Scalvini who are out with long term ACL injuries. While veterna defender Rafael Toloi is a doubt with muscle complaint. As per Tutto Atalanta, former Everton man Ben Godfrey is also expected to be out after missing out against Fiorentina with a lower back injury. Meanwhile defenders Sead Kolacinac and Berat Djimsiti are back from injuries.
POTENTIAL LINEUP ATALANTA VS ARSENAL
ARSENAL
Arsenal is expected to go again with the 4-2-3-1 formating which they used against Spurs in the north london derby victory last weekend.
The defensive system might stay unchanged with David Raya at goal with Gabriel and Saliba at the heart of the defence. Ben White and Jurien Timber who had excellent north london derby outings are expected to be unchanged. In midfielder Jorginho is likely to be dropped with Declan rice returning to the starting eleven. Thomas Partey is set to partner him the double pivot role. Upfront Leandro Trossard will lead the line with Saka and Martinelli on both the flanks. Whereas Kai Havertz is set to play a much deeper role behind Trossard.
ATALANTA
Atalanta have always been fearless against big teams in the past. So Gasperini is expected to play an unchanged eleven from their previous match against Fiorentina. Since they have a lot of injuries, the defence will stay unchanged. Marco Carnesecchi will be retained in goal behind the three at the back defense of Djimsiti, Hien and Kolasinac. The four in midfield are Ederson and Martin de Roon in the middle and Ruggeri and Bellanova on the flanks. In the attack Matteo Retegui is expected to lead the attack with Lookman and De Ketelaera in support role.
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