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September 19, 2024

Atalanta 0-0 Arsenal: Raya’s Penalty Save Stands Out in Dull Draw – Primeira Liga

Arsenal secured just a point in their Thursday night clash against Atalanta. David Raya emerged as the Gunners’ hero, saving a crucial second-half penalty. While Mikel Arteta’s team was solid defensively, they struggled to find a decisive breakthrough in attack.

Arsenal Held to Goalless Draw in Champions League Opener

Following a scoreless first half in northern Italy, Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya made a crucial impact after the break with a brilliant double save from Mateo Retegui’s penalty.

Arsenal successfully contained last season’s Europa League champions for much of the match but struggled to generate chances, ultimately settling for a point in their first European outing of the new season.

Match Summary

Following a composed and effective display in the north London derby, Arsenal showed no signs of being overwhelmed in the early stages at the Gewiss Stadium. Mikel Arteta’s side controlled the opening minutes in Bergamo, with Bukayo Saka’s powerful free kick nearly giving them an early lead.

Despite Arsenal’s control of possession and patient build-up, they found it difficult to penetrate an Atalanta side that defended tightly in one-on-one battles across the pitch. As the game progressed, the Italian team grew in confidence. It carved out their first real chance at the half-hour mark, with Charles De Ketelaere shooting wide from the edge of the box.

The first half, appealing mainly to purists, ended quietly as Atalanta and Arsenal nullified each other. However, given how the Serie A team had previously dismantled Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen in last season’s Europa League, Arteta would likely have been pleased with his team’s composure in such a challenging setting.

Arteta’s satisfaction was brief in the second half, as Thomas Partey conceded a penalty two minutes after the restart. However, the Ghanaian midfielder was rescued by his goalkeeper, Raya, who made an impressive save on the penalty and followed it up with an even better stop on the rebound to thwart Retegui.

Atalanta refused to let the missed penalty affect their morale, ramping up their intensity in the attacking third. Substitute Juan Cuadrado was the next to challenge Raya’s goal. Still, the former Chelsea player curled a 20-yard shot just over the Arsenal crossbar.

Raheem Sterling came on in the closing minutes as Arsenal aimed for a late victory, and the loanee quickly made his mark. His precise through ball found Gabriel Martinelli with 15 minutes remaining. Still, the Brazilian fired his close-range shot over the crossbar.

However, neither team could find the crucial breakthrough as time wound down, with both sides appearing content to settle for a point in their first Champions League match.

Arsenal Player Ratings

GK: David Raya – 9/10 – Had a quiet first half, mainly keeping warm, but was swiftly tested after the break. The Spaniard made a remarkable double save from Retegui’s penalty, helping to secure a point for his team.

RB: Ben White – 7/10 – Effectively contained last season’s Europa League final standout Ademola Lookman, managing one-on-one duels with the former Everton and Fulham forward. He had limited freedom in the Atalanta half.

CB: William Saliba – 8/10 – Maintained composure from start to finish, showing no signs of weakness against a vibrant Atalanta attack. The French defender made an excellent sliding challenge to thwart Lookman late in the match.

CB: Gabriel – 7/10 – Following his match-winning goal in the north London derby, the Brazilian faced a challenging task against the relentless Retegui in the final third. Nevertheless, he largely prevailed in battles around his own penalty area.

LB: Jurrien Timber – 6/10 – A steady but unremarkable performance from Arsenal’s versatile player at left-back, with De Ketelaere frequently frustrated by the Dutch defender’s solid play.

DM: Thomas Partey – 3/10 – Struggled with his distribution throughout the match and recklessly conceded a penalty to Atalanta early in the second half after being outmaneuvered by Ederson. He was substituted before the hour mark after a disappointing performance.

CM: Kai Havertz – 5/10 – Took on a midfield role and engaged in numerous duels with varying degrees of success. He could not provide the attacking spark that Arsenal missed in Martin Odegaard’s absence.

CM: Declan Rice – 7/10 – Delivered a classic Rice performance in both halves, dominating the midfield battle in and out of possession. He made a crucial head intervention early on and found himself in promising advanced positions.

RW: Bukayo Saka – 6/10 – The winger’s free-kick was the closest either side came to scoring in a lackluster first half, but he became increasingly isolated as the match progressed. He barely touched the ball in the second half, finishing with only 28 touches.

ST: Gabriel Jesus – 6/10 – He pressed and chased during his 58 minutes on the pitch but didn’t show the usual exceptional close control and flair we’ve expected. Still, he created three chances for his teammates.

LW: Gabriel Martinelli – 6/10 – As anticipated, Martinelli was an energetic presence on the left flank, putting in a solid effort in both halves. However, his influence in the final third was limited, and he squandered Arsenal’s best opportunity in the second half.

Player of the match: David Raya (Arsenal)