Preview: Arsenal FC’s Champions League Journey to Atalanta BC | Sports & Recreation

Champions League nights are again, of us! Few issues within the huge world of sports activities evaluate to the CL expertise. The better of the perfect of Europe’s leagues return to see who could be topped the champion of Europe. The anthem, the ambiance, and the stakes mix for some memorable footballing moments. Add Arsenal into the combo, and it simply feels proper.

But even essentially the most storied of establishments can't escape modernity. This season ushers in a brand new, league-style format that presents a drastic change from what now we have turn out to be accustomed to in addition to some new challenges (and matches). Will a change in format allow a change in fortunes for the Gunners?

Here are 5 speaking factors forward of Thursday’s match:

Last Time Out

Arsenal returned to the storied contest final season after a seven 12 months hiatus and made a splash as they did, topping their group and making all of it the way in which to the quarterfinal stage earlier than narrowly bowing out to perpetual CL pest Bayern Munich.

After his first style of CL soccer as supervisor, Arteta is one other 12 months wiser, and the membership is prepared to make one other run and try to lastly safe a prize that has lengthy eluded them. Arteta has proven progress within the league in practically each season since taking up, however cup competitions nonetheless stay his Achilles heel. If he can replicate the identical progress within the CL as he has proven within the Premier League, the Gunners could discover themselves vying for the cup by season’s finish.

Know the Enemy

Fun truth: Arsenal are going through a membership which they've by no means confronted earlier than up to now. In that regard, this makes this match that further bit extra attention-grabbing.

Atalanta are at present eighth in Italy’s Serie A, with 2 wins and a pair of losses from 4 matches. They discovered themselves qualifying for this season’s Champions League after successful the Europa League over Bayer Leverkusen to declare the membership’s first main trophy since 1963, courtesy of a hattrick from former PL participant Ademola Lookman.

From an Arsenal-centric standpoint, the Gunners will face no less than one acquainted face in former Arsenal man Sead Kolasinac, who joined Atalanta final season.

For a deeper dive into Thursday’s foe, try Aaron’s interview with Amore Atalanta.

Reformatting

If you're both out of the loop or simply forgot, this season ushers in a drastic change to the Champions League format. Gone are the group phases the place 4 golf equipment have been drawn from seeded pots and positioned in teams of 4 with 6 matches to play. That has been changed by a “league phase” first spherical the place groups will play 8 matches towards 8 golf equipment drawn from seeded pots, with their outcomes putting them on a league-style desk.

This break from custom will even eradicate the home-and-away side that was an important within the earlier group stage dynamic. In the brand new format, there is no such thing as a return leg. Arsenal will face Atalanta as soon as within the opening spherical, on the street, and that’s it.

The prime 8 golf equipment on the finish of the league part will obtain automated byes into the knockouts, whereas the subsequent 16 will play a two-leg playoff. This means there's a large impetus for groups to end in that prime 8 and keep away from further matches. More matches with MORE significance? That’s not superb.

Arsenal are set to face Atalanta (a), Paris St. Germain (h), Shakhtar Donetsk (h), Inter Milan (a), Sporting CP (a), Monaco (h), Dinamo Zagreb (h), and Girona (a).

Injuries & Suspensions

After fielding a depleted roster at Tottenham on Sunday, the Gunners emerged victorious. Now, the Gunners can have midfielder Declan Rice again after he missed the North London Derby on Sunday whereas serving his ludicrous purple card ban.

Bukayo Saka was subbed off late towards Spurs with what appeared to be a cramp. There has been no report as to his availability, however one can think about (and hope) that Arteta will take measures to forestall any additional points.

Odegaard and Merino stay out, to little shock.

Riccardo Calafiori returned to coaching on Wednesday. Whether he will likely be wholesome sufficient to characteristic on Thursday stays to be seen.

Predicted Lineup

Mikel Arteta has some attention-grabbing choices to make. Arsenal can’t strategy this match with an excessive amount of of a gambler’s mentality, as a prime 8 end within the CL league is the intention. But with an enormous journey to Manchester City on Sunday, the stability wants to be struck masterfully.

With so many accidents to the again line depth, I think about the road from Sunday will keep intact for Thursday after their extremely resolute efficiency. Kiwior might begin on the left if wanted, however Timber was too good on Sunday to drop. Raya in aim is a given.

Arteta opted to use a conventional 4-4-2 on Sunday within the absence of Martin Ødegaard to nice success. Without the membership captain, I can see Arteta sticking to that formation once more. Rice and Partey ought to begin centrally, although Partey might swap with Jorginho. Whoever begins, the opposite will certainly take his spot within the 2nd half.

Although he had one wasteful second of notice towards Spurs, Martinelli was relentless and seemed like a participant making an attempt to show himself. A begin on Thursday might do him some good, particularly with Trossard and Havertz up prime. Jesus might characteristic as properly, however he simply returned from one other harm, so count on him to sub on late.

The huge change, I believe, will likely be Sterling for Saka. Arteta lastly has a participant the place the drop off between he and Saka just isn't a large gulf. We introduced in Sterling to assist ease the minutes for Saka, so what higher time than Thursday? With a large match on Sunday towards City, there’s little cause to not relaxation him the place attainable.

Looking Ahead

Arsenal have been thrown straight into the hearth this season. Their Premier League schedule has pressured them to discover their sea legs shortly, and so they’ve navigated it nearly-perfectly, with three wins and a draw from 4 fixtures, two of which have been on the street towards robust sides. Coming up this Sunday is among the largest exams of the season, when Arsenal journey to face reigning title holders Manchester City on the Etihad.

In an excellent world, Arteta might area his greatest XI in each matches. But the truth is that, in a world the place footballers have much less down time and extra matches than ever earlier than, managers have robust choices to make within the quick time period to guarantee the long run success of their membership. Thursday to Sunday just isn't a lot time between two huge matches, particularly once you issue within the journey and coaching. The Gunners will likely be put to the check by a fast-paced Atalanta who look to make an announcement of their opening match towards an English blue-blood. Arteta has arduous choices to make, and he'll as soon as once more want to thread a really small needle if he desires favorable ends in each matches.

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Arsenal are again the place they belong – preventing for titles and enjoying within the Champions League frequently. Regardless of the result on Thursday, it's a testomony to how far the membership has come that they are often seen as one of many favorites throughout a number of competitions.

Considering the emphatic nature of the victories in a few of the CL matches performed this week, the Gunners will want to profit from their first go to to Bergamo to be certain that they're among the many prime 8 of the CL desk.

WHO: Arsenal at Atalanta BC
WHAT: Champions League league stage Match Day 1
WHEN: Thursday, September nineteenth, 3:00pm EST/12:00pm PST/8:00pm GMT
WHERE: Gewiss Stadium, Bergamo, Italy
HOW TO WATCH: Streaming stay on the Paramount+ app.

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