DRAW Champions League: Atalanta BC 0 - 0 Arsenal | Thursday 19th September | KO: 20:00 BST | TNT Sports

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Champions League is back but on a Thursday let’s go!!

First and one of the hardest games in this initial round that we’ll have with a trip to Bergamo to face last year’s Europa League champions.

Lot of injuries at the back still but hopefully Saka just had a customary limp and will be fit for this although it sounds pessimistic for Ødegaard, Calafiori and Zinchenko.



May be a very big stage for Ethan so probably use Trossard in midfield again although we will have Rice back crucially for this.

Martinelli looks shot form wise in front of goal so may be a good full debut for an experienced CL player in Raheem.

We’ve never faced Atalanta before in a competitive match so here’s a bit about their start to the season…

Form Guide

Mixed start to the year after winning the Europa League last year getting pumped by Inter and needing a huge come back against Fiorentina yesterday.



They’ve been busy in the transfer market… made one of their stars last year De Ketelaere a permanent signing and even added Ben Godfrey from Everton with former PL players Cuadrado, Zaniolo and Rui Patricio.

They lost the heartbeat of last years team though in Koopmeiners to Juventus who was incredible in both league and EL which may explain the iffy start.



Danger Man

Back from injury on the weekend for his first game of the season and bagging a goal and assist against Fiorentina it has to be last year’s man of the match in the EL final Ademola Lookman.



Also keep an eye out for new signing Mateo Retegui up top who’s bagged four in four so far this year and is top scorer in Serie A…

 

[Rasmi]

I agree with rasmi!

Kiwi has to start either as left back or centre back. If he doesn't he will have every right to ask why he was not allowed to leave! Perfect game to play him for 90mins, management failure on many levels if we don't.

Tvh it’s fairly meaningless game. The whole new concept of CL is so big clubs can rotate and chances of failing in group stage has gone down a lot

 

[Blankety Blank]

Fixture lists, ref decision & injuries couldn't have been much more unkind to us this season so far.

3 of the toughest away games we could possibly face in 7 days.
All since having a man sent off at home for a virtual reflex action of tapping the ball a couple of inches costing us 2 points.

You really couldn't make it up tbh.

Thursday night in Italy back on Friday for another away game at the fkin Ethiad on Sunday.

Man City get 3 HOME games in 8 days.

Sat/Wed/Sun.

Anyhow I have faith in this group of players & manager.

If offered I would bite your hand off for 2 draws now though.

 

[Blankety Blank]

Tvh it’s fairly meaningless game. The whole new concept of CL is so big clubs can rotate and chances of failing in group stage has gone down a lot

We will see how it plays out.

Extra matches in ECL will take its toll on the squad.

It is one of our toughest games.

You really want to finish in the top 8 of the big group to avoid yet another game & possibly crashing out b4 the last 16.

 

[Batman]

...except starting timber Thursday then wanting him to play 2 days later is asking for trouble.

He has to be managed carefully, just a real shame Tomi, zinny, calafiori and even kt all unavailable right now and too early for mls at left back too.

Play white right back for this one and then demonstrate that it was sensible to keep kiwi around by playing him left back makes most sense.

Will be good to be able to rotate rb a bit more later in the season as players return

Did you miss the portion right before I said he would be more of an assignment for Timber if it were later in the season and everyone were fit?

 

[boonthegoon]

Let Partey rest and Jorgi to start in his homeland.

Jesus, Raheem need starts too probably but not sure they're sharp enough to start that Mikel will go with his first choices in attack.

 

[Hleb's Sirush]

How good is Atalanta I dont really follow the Russian league.

Are you being serious? Or has something gone over my head.

 

[Nunowoolmez]

I havent seen enough of the Sp**s game, but I have seen a bit of Nwaneri's cameo. That boy has got it, I think he can step in for Ødegaard already.

Start him Arteta, next to Rice and TP.

Trossard-----Havertz-------Saka
---------Rice------Nwaneri
---------------TP5
Timber--Gabriel---Saliba----White
---------------Raya

I'd go with this but put Sterling in for Trossard

If Cala is fit maybe give him a half at LB

 

[ggunner12345]

I think we should rest saka for city but arteta won't do that.dont understand why we're playing Thursday and not wed

 

[A_G]

I don’t think I can bring myself to watch a CL game on a Thursday, but what happened to the game I love?

You say this but come 19:55 Thursday night you’ll be on here begging me for a stream like a nitty

 

[rotateta]

Did you miss the portion right before I said he would be more of an assignment for Timber if it were later in the season and everyone were fit?

Must have. Seems we are in agreement then and hopefully arteta is as well.

Looking forward to some games this season where not fully obvious who is going to play! We need to rotate for this one, carefully given injuries we have and those we could cause by simply selecting the best 11 each week.

 

[Red London]

How good is Atalanta I dont really follow the Russian league.

You have it wrong Atalanta is actually the capital city of Georgia in the USA. It is home to Hip Hop ‘trap’ artists such as Future, Young Thug and Lil Baby.

Hope that helps!

 

[Gooner Zig]

----------------Raya-----------------
White--Saliba--Gabby XL--Kiwior--
------------Jorginho-----------------
--------Nwaneri--Rice---------------
---Sterling-----Jesus----Trossard---

I've assumed Cala won't be fit but if he is, he should be starting at LB.

 

[RunTheTrap]

Trossard-Jesus-Sterling
Nwaneri
Rice-Jorginho
Calafiori-Gabriel-Saliba-White
Raya


Atalanta might not be Real Madrid, but they're a tricky team that could hurt us. We should rotate out Havertz, Saka, Timber and Partey and keep them fresh for the big game on Sunday. White and Sterling need to play themselves into form because I wasn't happy with how either of them conducted themselves on Sunday. I picked Calafiori and Jorgingo because the two Italians know what Atalanta is about more than anyone else.

 

[db10_therza]

Trossard-Jesus-Sterling
Nwaneri
Rice-Jorginho
Calafiori-Gabriel-Saliba-White
Raya


Atalanta might not be Real Madrid, but they're a tricky team that could hurt us. We should rotate out Havertz, Saka, Timber and Partey and keep them fresh for the big game on Sunday. White and Sterling need to play themselves into form because I wasn't happy with how either of them conducted themselves on Sunday. I picked Calafiori and Jorgingo because the two Italians know what Atalanta is about more than anyone else.

I can’t decide which of Martinelli or Trossard I want starting against City, and I’d play the other against Atalanta. If we go full ****house against City I think Nelli is better option because of his recovery pace and defensive work.

 

[RunTheTrap]

I can’t decide which of Martinelli or Trossard I want starting against City, and I’d play the other against Atalanta. If we go full ****house against City I think Nelli is better option because of his recovery pace and defensive work.

I want Sterling to start against City. I only picked him in my starting lineup against Atalanta because I want him to build his fitness. I went with Trossard for Atalanta because I need him to build some form. Whenever he starts games he looks so out of his depth, and I am unsure why that is.

 

[Tom Mix]

Is Tomiyasu still in intensive care?

 

[Rex Stone]

Is Tomiyasu still in intensive care?

Probably back a while after Zinchenko and Calafiori.

 

[db10_therza]

I want Sterling to start against City. I only picked him in my starting lineup against Atalanta because I want him to build his fitness. I went with Trossard for Atalanta because I need him to build some form. Whenever he starts games he looks so out of his depth, and I am unsure why that is.

I can’t see him starting Sterling. Not yet. Tets is super cautious by nature and he will take his time with new players he didn’t get a full pre season with.

Happy to be proven wrong I’d like to see some more of Raheem and he will need actual minutes on the pitch to settle and be the guy we need him to be. I just don’t see it happening through. I was shaking my head when I saw how many of you expected him to start vs Sp**s.

 

[pure profit FC]

people might crucify me for this but i don't care about UCL progression, if we progress that's nice but honestly if it was up to me i would rotate heavily and rest players for sunday.

 

[Red London]

people might crucify me for this but i don't care about UCL progression, if we progress that's nice but honestly if it was up to me i would rotate heavily and rest players for sunday.

I agree with this, maybe less emphasis on not caring about CL progression.

IMO when you look at how many games you get in the CL now, there’s so much time to account for dropped points.

Beating/drawing Atalanta rather than losing could mean nothing in the grand scheme of things, or just mean we could rest a bit more in the final game.

Imo we are good enough to get a draw there even without Saka and Ødegaard. You throw Rice in the midfield and we can make it a super tough game.

Losing to city is a 6 pointer, and we’re already 2 points behind- losing is quite bad. Imo Saka should 100% be on the bench for this game, but knowing Arteta he will start and play 80+ mins.