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…

 

[Blood on the Tracks]

Atlantis on a Thursday night...Not good vibes.

What's A-M's own Plato, @A_G predicting for this one?

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

Because of CL their experience i wouldn't mind G.Jesus and Sterling start together here. with Havertz drop as midfielder or also on bench the guy also played so many games lately and will need to be rested.

 

[Sanchez11]

Raya
White
Saliba
Kiwior
Zinny if he is fit

Partey sub Jorginho on later
Rice
Nwaneri

Sterling
Jesus
Trossard

Give Skelly some real minutes

This team plz and thanks

 

[Bloodbather]

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!

You have it wrong also mate, Georgia is not in the USA but near the Caucasus Mountains, where U-God allegedly "made devils cower to" according to his statement in the 'Da Mystery of Chessboxin' by the Wu-Tang Clan.

 

[A_G]

Atlantis on a Thursday night...Not good vibes.

What's A-M's own Plato, @A_G predicting for this one?

1-1 or 1-0 to the boys from A-Town

 

[Tomb Bombadil]

I am quite sure Arteta will take the first game very seriously and play the best team available.

Martinelli - Havertz - Saka
Rice - Trossard
Partey
Timber - Gabriel - Saliba - White
Raya
​

I really hope we give at least a rest to Timber and Saka but hopefully a bit more.

Martinelli - Havertz - Trossard
Rice - Nwaneri
Jorginho
Kiwior - Gabriel - Saliba - White
Raya​

 

[Rasmi]

If Saka is 60% he plays I think. We know Arteta is gonna end this guys career at 26

 

[Paperino]

If Saka is 60% he plays I think. We know Arteta is gonna end this guys career at 26

Wasn't he injured?

 

[grange]

Must win game. I'm nervous.

 

[Rasmi]

Wasn't he injured?

Yes but he will be assessed. Didn’t look too bad

 

[coleio]

Wasn't he injured?

Dead leg apparently.

 

[PrinzPoldi]

If we did not have Merino, Calafiori, Ødegaard injuries, I'd say go for both CL and league.

Right now, if we miss Merino and Ode till mid/late October, I would say we need to shift the importance a bit and pay more attention to one than the other.

 

[Riou]

People still not understanding that this is the Champions League group stage and not the Europa League group stage, make too many changes for an away game here and we will 100% lose.

Maybe 1 or 2 max, but this is a Premier League level opponent...this isn't Dundalk or Zurich

 

[Bradpiff]

2-0 routine win and off to citeh

 

[Melquiades]

People still not understanding that this is the Champions League group stage and not the Europa League group stage, make too many changes for an away game here and we will 100% lose.

Maybe 1 or 2 max, but this is a Premier League level opponent...this isn't Dundalk or Zurich

Yup. You don't want to **** this game up and then be chasing the group. This is a good team and we need to be dressing a strong team.

 

[fute]

It's the CL.

You bring your A game.

 

[Melquiades]

It's the CL.

You bring your A game.

The first four games (Atalanta/PSG/Shakhtar/Inter) are a lot harder than the next four games (Sporting/Monaco/Zagreb/Girona).

If we go 4-0 or 3W 1D in those first 4 games, *maybe* you can lift the pedal a bit and rotate more heavily for some of the later games. But right now we've gotta get wins in the bank.

 

[Beany]

Atlantis on a Thursday night...Not good vibes.

What's A-M's own Plato, @A_G predicting for this one?

If we’re playing Atlantis we better put Aquaman up front.

 

[bergholt]

Wasn't he injured?

Arteta's opinion:

 

[Wagwaan]

I'm a big advocate for playing your strongest available XI in the champions league regardless of the opposition, but the poor timing of being smack bang in the middle of a North London Derby, where we had to exert a lot of energy off the ball, and a crucial game against City where it is pivotal we have our strongest available XI on the pitch. Rotation is a needs must, but I feel we have actual depth in the squad rather than 'fake depth' of bodies.

There's a few players that need to manage their minutes, Timber, Partey and Saka being the main culprits. All three should be given the night off in my opinion.

Rice will come in to sit alongside Jorginho.
Hopefully Calafiori is fit enough to get a Full debut in his home country, if not I would begrudgingly put Kiwior in the side.
Sterling comes in for Saka.
Martinelli could do with a goal for his confidence but he will be starting at City because of his defensive workrate regardless.

Raya
White Saliba Gabriel Calafiori
Havertz Jorginho Rice
Sterling Jesus Trossard