Mikel Arteta had promised that this week would be the acid test of how much Arsenal have improved this season and, on the evidence of this scrappy performance, they still have plenty to work on.
But after overcoming the first hurdle against Tottenham on Sunday, it needed a miraculous double save from David Raya to rescue them from defeat in the opening match of their Champions League campaign after a disjointed display that only underlined just how much they are missing the captain Martin Ødegaard.
The Arsenal manager hailed Raya as “unbelievable” and will be delighted to return to north London with a point having seen his side outplayed by Atalanta, although it could have been even better had Gabriel Martinelli not wasted a glorious late opportunity to snatch the victory.
Of more importance will be the fact that his side have now recorded four clean sheets from their five matches thanks to Raya and the imperious central defensive partnership of the outstanding Gabriel Magalhães and William Saliba, even if that record is likely to come under threat from Erling Haaland and co on Sunday.
Arteta had insisted before kick-off that the meeting with Manchester City had no bearing on his team selection here. But the continued absence of Ødegaard meant he switched things around by recalling Gabriel Jesus after his return from a groin injury, while Kai Havertz was asked to provide the creative spark in support of the Brazil striker.
Three defeats in their five away matches in Europe last season is in stark contrast to their domestic form on the road that has seen them win all but one in 2024 – the 0-0 at City in March. Facing an Atalanta side who enjoyed the greatest European night in their history only 120 days ago when they beat Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final was never going to be an easy assignment.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s side may only be embarking on their fourth Champions League campaign but the previous three had seen them take points from Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool. In a stadium that has just completed a £100m refurbishment, the home fans put on a show before kick-off by unveiling a tifo with the message “liberi di sognare” (free to dream).
But it was Arsenal who made the better start and Bukayo Saka came close to opening the scoring with a low free-kick that was heading for the bottom corner until Marco Carnesecchi intervened. The Atalanta goalkeeper reacted quickly to keep out Thomas Partey’s follow-up before Martinelli then fired over.
Atalanta looked a threat whenever Ademola Lookman – employed here as a No 10 by Gasperini – got on the ball but Charles De Ketelaere could only shoot wide with their first sight of goal. A measure of how they had grown into the game after a slow start was the fact they had completed significantly more passes than Arsenal by the 35th minute, even if they had yet to test Raya.
At the other end, Jesus – making his first start since the end of April – was twice guilty of squandering possession and looked rusty. Arsenal’s players formed a huddle as the second half was just about to begin but they could not have made a worse start.
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Partey had just committed a foul on Éderson in the centre circle when he found himself up against the Brazilian again on the edge of his own box. There was little sign of any real contact but there was no doubt that Partey had been clumsy with his challenge and the referee Clément Turpin immediately pointed to the spot.
While the decision was being ratified by VAR, Raya ran over to the Arsenal goalkeeping coach, Iñaki Caña, for consultation. Whatever he said, it clearly worked as the Spain goalkeeper parried away Mateo Retegui’s first attempt before somehow managing to stop the penalty taker’s follow-up header with a brilliant full-stretch save on the goalline.
Afterwards Arteta lauded Raya. “I witnessed two of the best saves I have probably seen in my career to save us in that moment,” he said. “He was unbelievable again today.” Arteta responded to the spot-kick drama by replacing Partey and Jesus with Jorginho and Leandro Trossard almost immediately but his side could still not wrest back control.
Instead, it was another substitute in the former Chelsea winger Juan Cuadrado who had the next sight of goal but his dipping effort from distance was just too high. The Colombian was even closer soon afterwards while Raheem Sterling – who became the first Englishman to play for four different clubs in this competition when he was introduced late on – almost had an instant impact when he set up Martinelli after being played through by Havertz. But the Brazilian was wasteful and sent his shot high and wide, much to the disappointment of the travelling supporters behind the goal as Arsenal head into the showdown with City bruised but not defeated.