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]

No way man Arteta speak good Italian ffs guy never lived there.

He’s Spanish. It’s practically the same language

 

[El Realista]

Why I am not amazed. He is so reluctant to rotate it's not even a surprise. The guy can't even rotate his outfit.

He didn't even rotate Partey, guy doesn't learn. He will play old Partey until he gets injured then Jorginho until injured players recover and keep Nwaneri watching games while saying he trust him so much warming the bench.

 

[1macca1]

Where did you get this information?
20 teams get knocked out after the league stage.
The top eight sides in the league will qualify automatically for the knockout phase and will receive a bye to the round of 16, while the teams finishing in 9th to 24th place will compete in a two-legged first round play-off to secure their path to the round of 16, with teams ranked 9th–16th being seeded and hosting the second leg at home while teams ranked 17th to 24th hosting the first leg.

Round of 16 means 16 team, therefore 20 gets knocked out.

Sorry, I’d just come off a night shift so the math was bad. 12 teams get knocked out during the league stage. A play off isn’t league phase, as you quoted.

 

[DUFFMAN]

Without Ødegaard we are goosed.

 

[RunTheTrap]

Today performance remind me of those dark first 6 months of Mikel 2020 when we got no attacking midfielder. Yes we much better team now but we really to find solution before it's too late

Yep, Arteta was chopping and changing between Willian, Lacazette and Willock for the no. 10 spot for a few months. Luckily ESR stepped up and salvaged what was left of that season. We have already tried Havertz and Trossard. Let's hope we aren't languishing in 8th before Arteta trusts Nwaneri.

 

[El Realista]

i don't think i've seen such a poor attack since the stewart houston days with glenn helder and chris kiwomya, tragic stuff, artelliban needs to hire an attacking coach in the backroom staff.

That's what you get with Havertz in the cam role and GJ on top. Havertz is CF and only CF. GJ is garbage striker, and wings should be where he plays.

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

He’s Spanish. It’s practically the same language

It's similar but still there difference on how you use words more impressed in this than his team system offensively

 

[DUFFMAN]

Depressing we are without 2 out of our 3 starting midfielders for months.

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

Yep, Arteta was chopping and changing between Willian, Lacazette and Willock for the no. 10 spot for a few months. Luckily ESR stepped up and salvaged what was left of that season. We have already tried Havertz and Trossard. Let's hope we aren't languishing in 8th before Arteta trusts Nwaneri.

Yeah this time we actually have good midfield and defense so we won't drop to midtable but if you don't score enough you'll be under big pressure

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

Our defense just never fail to impress me Atalanta very dangerous team going forward yet they really didn't trouble us at all thier tow attempts on target because of penalty.

We really blessed it's huge part to our progress as team

 

[El Realista]

Today performance remind me of those dark first 6 months of Mikel 2020 when we got no attacking midfielder. Yes we much better team now but we really to find solution before it's too late

The times a guy called ESR saved his ass because due to injuries he got forced to play him. Today he didn't even subbed Nwaneri. He trust him my balls. The guy is utterly adverse to risk.

 

[El Realista]

He’s Spanish. It’s practically the same language

I speak Spanish and I can't speak Italian magically. Maybe Teta invest more time in Duolingo than thinking how to attack in football.

 

[Batman]

The times a guy called ESR saved his ass because due to injuries he got forced to play him. Today he didn't even subbed Nwaneri. He trust him my balls. The guy is utterly adverse to risk.

If that were true, he would have a more established backup for Ødegaard in the squad, wouldn't he? He's averse to certain kinds of risk but certainly not risk in general.

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

We also had really tough start of season we done well so far despite not being that good on pitch all our away games been tough Villa Sp**s And Atalanta hopefully after City it can release some pressure and the players start performing.

 

[El Realista]

If that were true, he would have a more established backup for Ødegaard in the squad, wouldn't he? He's averse to certain kinds of risk but certainly not risk in general.

Havertz is that player, I am 100% now Havertz is the option to that. In his mind if Ødegaard is not available he only needs to put Havertz there and someone else in the striker role.

 

[Batman]

Havertz is that player, I am 100% now Havertz is the option to that. In his mind if Ødegaard is not available he only needs to put Havertz there and someone else in the striker role.

Right but whether he believes that to be a solution or not, I think we agree it is a risk not having a player more similar to Ødegaard to deputize for him so in that sense he cannot be risk averse entirely. Where he's risk averse is specifically turning the keys over to the kids in moments he probably should.

 

[El Realista]

Against city I expect this same starting 11. Only doubt imo is Trossard or Martinelli, but I think it will be Martinelli and we will sit and counter. Nwaneri won't play if injuries are not the reason for subbing him in.

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

The times a guy called ESR saved his ass because due to injuries he got forced to play him. Today he didn't even subbed Nwaneri. He trust him my balls. The guy is utterly adverse to risk.

He'll forced to play Nwaneri sooner this time the only thing stopping Arteta is Nwaneri being 17 years old but his performance against Sp**s even if was 10 minutes but showed lot of positives.

 

[Riou]

Rio asking Rice some really stupid questions btw. Luckily Keown there to shut that down.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1836264678726549834

 

[El Realista]

Right but whether he believes that to be a solution or not, I think we agree it is a risk not having a player more similar to Ødegaard to deputize for him so in that sense he cannot be risk averse entirely. Where he's risk averse is specifically turning the keys over to the kids in moments he probably should.

But we agree that was bad squad managing right? So it is part of his own foul. If Ødegaard is out until November or more, I don't see us winning the league because we will probably lose points in some ****ty draws. We shouldn't be so dependent to one player.