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Atalanta vs Arsenal Champions League Prediction: Europa League winners face the Gunners

Atalanta lifted their first ever European trophy last season and will be expected to make a mark in the Champions League

 
11:22am on Wednesday 18th September 2024
By
Martin Macdonald

Europa League champions Atalanta begin their Champions League campaign with a tough fixture against Arsenal on Thursday.

La Dea defeated Leverkusen in the Europa League Final to earn a place in the Champions League in 2024/25, while Arsenal finished second in the Premier League.

The Gunners head into these fixtures as one of the tournament favourites.

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Atalanta Recent Form

Atalanta haven't had a great start to the new campaign. Even before the Serie A season kicked off, they lost the European Super Cup to Real Madrid.

In domestic action, they have won two against Lecce and Fiorentina and lost two versus Torino and Inter.

Atalanta Injury News

Atalanta will be missing two of their most important players until 2025 as both Gianluca Scamacca and Giorgio Scalvini have serious knee injuries.

Rafael Toloi and Ben Godfrey missed the win against Fiorentina at the weekend and their fitness will be assessed closer to kick-off.

Sead Kolasinac, Berat Djimsiti and Nicolo Zaniolo have all returned from injury.

Last Atalanta Lineup

Here's how Atalanta lined up against Fiorentina.

Arsenal Recent Form

Arsenal have made a positive start in the Premier League, winning four out of their opening five games against Everton, Wolves, Aston Villa and then Tottenham at the weekend.

At the end of August, they drew against Brighton and so are already a couple of points behind Man City at the top of the table.

Arsenal Injury News

Influential captain Martin Odegaard will be out until the end of October after picking up an ankle injury on international duty, while Mikel Merino and Riccardo Calafiori are still out.

Bukayo Saka was withdrawn in the North London Derby due to a knock but there is hope he'll be fit to face both Atalanta and then Man City this weekend.

Declan Rice is available again after hid domestic suspension.

Last Arsenal Lineup

Here's how Arsenal lined up against Tottenham.

Atalanta - Player To Watch

Ademola Lookman made his first Serie A appearance of the season at the weekend and burst onto the scene with a goal and an assist versus Fiorentina.

26 yrs - F, AM (C) - Atalanta
88
Defending
Creative
Passing
Attacking
Shooting
Decisive
Aerials
Physical
JavaScript chart by amChartsLDefendingCreativePassingAttackingShootingDecisiveAerialsPhysical10-10-5051015100%
90
Played matches
1
1
1
Shots P90
5.00
Dribbles P90
5.00
Successful passing %
86%
Final third passes P90
12.00

Arsenal - Player To Watch

Saka may not be firing on all cylinders after his knock against Spurs, but with Odegaard definitely out it's even more important he starts this one. He already has five goal contributions in four games in the Premier League.

23 yrs - W, AM (R) - Arsenal
93 
Defending
Creative
Passing
Attacking
Shooting
Decisive
Aerials
Physical
JavaScript chart by amChartsLDefendingCreativePassingAttackingShootingDecisiveAerialsPhysical10-10-5051015100%
344
Played matches
4
1
4
Shots P90
2.88
Shots On target P90
1.83
Successful passing %
82%
Final third passes P90
15.44

For all of the analysis of Atalanta vs Arsenal as it happens live, check out our Live Update page for the game.

Atalanta vs Arsenal - Prediction

Atalanta haven't been at their swashbuckling best so far in the new season and they'll need to get back to that kind of level to get anything out of Arsenal, who have one of the meanest defences in Europe. Even without Odegaard, the Gunners have enough to win big games, as they displayed against Spurs.

Scoreline prediction - Atalanta 0-2 Arsenal

Atalanta vs Arsenal - Betting Tips

Arsenal to Win to Nil

- Arsenal have conceded just one goal in four matches this season

- Atalanta have failed to find the back of the net in two of their five competitive games this season

Bukayo Saka to Register an Assist

- Bukayo Saka has four assists in four games for Arsenal this season

Recent Ratings

Next Game

VS
97
Arsenal
  Average Match Rating  
7.0
  Home  
7.6
6.9
  Away  
7.6
6.9
  Total  
7.6

Match statistics

Injuries

  1. Muscle Strain image description
  2. Back Injury image description
  3. ACL Knee Ligament Injury image description
  4. ACL Knee Ligament Injury image description
  5. Shoulder Injury image description
  6. Ankle/Foot Injury image description
  7. Knee Injury image description