ATALANTA 0-0 ARSENAL: Arsenal had a significant reprieve as David Raya executed an exceptional double penalty save against Mateo Retegui, marking one of the season’s most remarkable saves to date.
David Raya executed a remarkable double save from the penalty spot, preserving Arsenal’s chances against Atalanta in their Champions League opening, resulting in a 0-0 draw in Italy on Thursday night.
The Gunners encountered difficulties in the first half as Mikel Arteta’s squad failed to penetrate a resolute Atalanta defense, dominating possession yet lacking the decisive last pass.
Arsenal, having reinstated Declan Rice following his ban in the North London derby, posed a danger intermittently, with Havertz narrowly missing the target with an early attempt. Bukayo Saka subsequently tested Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi, compelling him to execute a deft save from a forceful low free-kick.
In the latter half, Arsenal had a significant reprieve when David Raya executed a stunning double save from the penalty spot following Thomas Partey’s foul on Ederson within the area, marking one of the season’s most remarkable saves to date.
The Gunners had a significant opportunity to grab the lead via Gabriel Martinelli, who shot over following Raheem Sterling’s assist, eventually resulting in frustration during their debut Champions League match in Italy.
Presented are Mirror Football’s discussion points on Arsenal’s excursion to Atalanta.
1 Sterling achieves a historic milestone
Raheem Sterling appears to have acclimated seamlessly to Arsenal, having extricated himself from his challenging circumstances at Chelsea, and he has swiftly established a record quickly following his arrival at the Emirates. By substituting for the Gunners, Sterling became the inaugural player to participate in the Champions League for four distinct English teams.
Sterling excelled in the competition for Liverpool before playing for Manchester City after joining the Sky Blues the subsequent year. He then played for the Blues in Europe’s premier tournament during the 22/23 season before substituting for Arsenal in the 73rd minute. A limited number of players have participated in the Champions League for three distinct English clubs: David Batty, Yossi Benayoun, William Gallas, and Kolo Toure.
Arsenal encounters difficulties in generating opportunities in the absence of Odegaard.
The Gunners encountered difficulties in the first half, unable to penetrate a resolute Atalanta defense in the absence of their primary playmaker, Odegaard, who is expected to be sidelined for an extended period. Arsenal had already played one match without him, securing a 1-0 victory against Tottenham in the North London derby. Although they shown commendable possession at times, they were deficient in the decisive pass that the Norwegian frequently delivers.
Kai Havertz functioned between midfield and attack, positioned ahead of the returning Declan Rice and Thomas Partey, similar to his role against Spurs. However, with Havertz functioning primarily as an attacking player, Arsenal was deficient in a midfielder capable of orchestrating attacks and delivering incisive passes in front of two defensively-oriented midfielders, which proved detrimental at times. The situation did not significantly improve in the second half, as they concluded the match with only a few shots and no clear-cut opportunities.
Raya’s spectacular save
The most significant event of the contest was a save that was as impactful as any goal scored in the game. David Raya is receiving several accolades for his excellent saves at Arsenal, and his double save against Mateo Retegui further reinforced the commendations directed towards him.
Arsenal had a disastrous beginning to the second half when Partey fouled Ederson; however, Raya performed admirably under pressure—diving low to his right to deflect the penalty kick, then swiftly recovering to save Retegui’s header from the rebound. The Spaniard shown remarkable reactions and salvaged Arsenal’s situation. His remarkable save from Ollie Watkins this month was already a candidate for goal of the season; this undoubtedly exceeded that.
Four former Arsenal players demonstrate notable skill.
During a subdued first half, Sead Kolasinac, a player released by Arsenal two years prior, had a commendable performance that effectively hindered his former team in the initial phases. The Bosnian international was determined to demonstrate his capabilities, successfully completing all but one of his passes in the first half and winning five out of six duels, so contributing significantly to Atalanta’s robust back three on Thursday night.
That persisted in the second half as Arsenal struggled to find their rhythm, with Saka experiencing limited success on the right flank. At 31 years of age, the defender will be satisfied with his performance against his previous club, for which he made 118 appearances from 2017 to 2022 prior to transferring to Marseille. Kolasinac has been instrumental for Atalanta, participating in 43 matches last season.
Arsenal’s conspicuous deficiency in offensive capability
This was a clear indication that Arsenal requires a dependable striker who can score over 20 goals every season. Arsenal were associated with many forwards this summer, including Ivan Toney and Julian Alvarez; yet, with none acquired, one questions if they had sufficient offensive capability to compete this season.
Gabriel Jesus was unexpectedly appointed captain on Thursday night and failed to motivate the Gunners offensively until being substituted in the 58th minute for Leandro Trossard, who has frequently salvaged the team’s attacking efforts. Havertz had an early opportunity in the first half, then later in the second half, Gabriel Martinelli was excellently assisted by Sterling, although he inexplicably shot over the bar. He arguably should have scored, but he at least needed to strike the target.
