Mateo Retegui saw his penalty kept out by a sensational David Raya double save, as Atalanta are left with regrets after holding Arsenal to a 0-0 draw on their Champions League return.
La Dea were still trying to find their feet after a transformative summer and the Europa League triumph, missing Gianluca Scamacca, Giorgio Scalvini and Rafael Toloi, with Nicolò Zaniolo only fit for the bench. The Gunners made the trip without Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Kieran Terney and ex-Bologna defender Takehiro Tomiyasu.
See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.
The Gewiss Stadium was only reopened at the weekend, so the tifo in the stands reflected their Europa League victory.
🎶 THE CHAMPIONSSSSS 🎶
Arsenal get set to kick-off their Champions League campaign in an incredible atmosphere 🤩 pic.twitter.com/jqhiudCzgS
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 19, 2024
Marco Carnesecchi got down after 13 minutes for the fingertip save as a Bukayo Saka hard and low free kick went past the wall, also denying the Thomas Partey follow-up.
Charles De Ketelaere placed a left-foot curler off target after the Mateo Retegui back-heel flick, as the hosts started to take control of possession.
At the dawn of the second half, Ederson nutmegged Partey to burst into the box and was brought down for an Atalanta penalty. Retegui stepped up, but David Raya parried both the spot-kick and remarkably the follow-up header off the line too.
DAVID RAYA, TAKE A BOW!
One of the best double saves you’ll ever see 🤯
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/sPgZF293QI
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 19, 2024
Juan Cuadrado came off the Atalanta bench and two right-foot curlers were just off target from outside the area, while Italy internationals Jorginho and Riccardo Calafiori were introduced for Arsenal.
Gabriel Martinelli fired over on a Kai Havertz flick, though might’ve been offside anyway, while William Saliba made a desperate sliding tackle to stop Ademola Lookman getting the shot away from 10 yards.
Gabriel Martinelli skies a great chance to give Arsenal the lead 🥅
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/oEWLGQbW6y
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 19, 2024
Atalanta 0-0 Arsenal
Saved penalty: Retegui 51 (At)
Match statistic
Arsenal’s net spend since 2016 is well in excess of a billion. Yet they went to Bergamo and literally parked the bus.
@Rosario.
Yes, that’s right. Yet not one media has said that out loud, because it is arsenal 😀