“He is the poorest performer on the field, and I have never witnessed a more subpar rendition of him than the one displayed last night against Atalanta.”- Arsenal Icon Thierry Henry swiftly criticized the £110M Arsenal player for his outstanding performance last night, urging him to depart Arsenal for the Chinese League. Neither J5, Partey, nor Havertz
Arsenal’s most and least effective players in disappointing stalemate against Atalanta
Arsenal and Atalanta played to a 0-0 draw on Thursday evening in the Champions League.
David Raya executed a penalty save in the second half of a subdued match.
Thomas Partey experienced a challenging night in northern Italy.
Arsenal’s visit to Atalanta for their inaugural Champions League match of the season anticipated a high-scoring affair. Consequently, it resulted in a lackluster goalless draw.
Goal-mouth activity was little in both halves, as defenses dominated the match; nonetheless, David Raya emerged as Arsenal’s hero after saving Mateo Retegui’s penalty after the interval.
Although hardly a catastrophic outcome for the Gunners – and certainly a rather satisfactory one considering Atalanta’s European stature – Mikel Arteta is likely to have felt some frustration about his team’s deficiency of incisiveness in the opponent’s half.
During a testing evening in Bergamo, Arsenal’s most and least effective performers were identified.
Arsenal’s premier player vs Atalanta: David Raya: 9/10
In a lackluster confrontation in northern Italy, Raya distinguished himself for Arsenal. The Euro 2024 champion had minimal involvement, making only two saves throughout the match; yet, he executed one of the most remarkable double saves in Champions League history.
They arrived within just seconds of one another. The initial attempt was thwarted by Retegui, as the Spaniard adeptly dove to his right to deflect the Italy international’s penalty with a powerful palm. However, the second was much more remarkable.
Rising swiftly from the ground, Raya sprang over his goal-line to deflect Retegui’s headed rebound, preserving Arsenal’s clean sheet.
On an uneventful night, Raya delivered the one memorable moment.
Honorable Mention: William Saliba – 8/10
Saliba’s career features a limited amount of subpar performances, demonstrating his steady reliability in defense. Securing another clean sheet, he performed admirably against the dynamic and tireless Retegui.
He successfully completed all his tackles, achieved five recoveries, and executed five clearances, including a stunning sliding challenge within his own penalty area to thwart Ademola Lookman with five minutes remaining. He achieved a pass accuracy of 92%.
Arsenal’s least effective player vs Atalanta
Thomas Partey: 30%
Only one Arsenal player performed poorly in the Gewiss Stadium, and that was Partey. Tasked with anchoring the midfield and maintaining control for the Gunners, he instead undermined their efforts with his erratic passing.
The Ghanaian concluded the match with a mediocre 79% pass accuracy and succeeded in winning only one of his three tackles. His role in conceding a penalty to Atalanta by fouling Ederson in the box after being effortlessly outmaneuvered solidifies his position as Arsenal’s poorest performer in Bergamo.
Disreputable reference Kai Havertz: 5/10
Havertz has distinguished himself as a remarkable yet unconventional number nine, but the German international was repositioned to midfield against Atalanta. The choice was justified although ultimately ineffective.
Having committed the highest number of fouls among players, winning only two of his eleven duels and generating no opportunities in the final third, Havertz is expected to revert to his preferred striker position this weekend.
