Arsenal’s first European game of the season ended in stalemate after a 0-0 draw with Atalanta in Bergamo this evening.
The Gunners had a couple of attacking moments, but didn’t threaten consistently – and had David Raya to thank after making a brilliant double save after Thomas Partey conceded a second half penalty.
Here’s how the players rated this afternoon.
Read the Atalanta 0-0 Arsenal match report and see the goal here
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Brutal performance. The manager has to change tack by the weekend.
Genuinely, change what? There isn’t much to change and I don’t think this is the game to try something new. We have to survive out of possession against City and try to snatch something.
no, he has to change something… if we are that wasteful in possession it’s gonna be a long 90 mins against city… even mikel would have been disappointed at the standards of our possession play. Atalanta couldn’t really hurt us but the firepower that city have is different matter entirely. I think we are defensively quite sound but you make a defender’s job so much harder when you keep giving the ball away and don’t fully develop on your attacking threat. Even Gabriel, Saliba and Raya, as heroic as they are, are only human…
The obvious one is to start someone with any kind of creativity in midfield, that’s where I’d start. Most disjointed performance since his early days.
Raya best player so far this season.
I have to agree with you, but ideally you really don’t want your keeper as your best player. De Gea was United’s best player 3 years in a row and look how low they went. We need Raya to have comfortable games and let the other players do the business at scoring.
I think it’s time to bench Martinelli. This lack of focus in front of goal and form has spread from last season. He just needs a reset or some time.
He needs a goal not bemch time. Plus he is better than Leo for starters
Timber only played ~70 min or so 🙂
Raya 8.5? Seems harsh!
Also looks like the tens are counted as zeroes, because his average rating is under six at this point!
Timber wasn’t on for 90 minutes.
Ah don’t get all snooty lads
Init
Thank you for teaching me a new word! 😁
Starting our two non scoring Brazilians alongside each other means Saka has to score or the two number 8s otherwise we become too one dimensional.
Nothing against Martinelli but I feel either Trossard or Sterling should be starting ahead of him till he regains his composure. Obviously the injury to Ødegaard doesn’t help but it also means we have little room for poor finishing given how lesser we are to create them
From just the two limited appearances so far, I don’t see Sterling doing nearly enough out of possession to displace Gabi. He’s actually playing quite well in every aspect but finishing/final ball. While I realize that’s a big deal given his position, I think the defensive solidity is more important for this three-game stretch through Sunday.
Why is in Jorginho called Borginho in the ratings?
His Christian name is Jorginho. Family name is Borginho. Rhymes.
I saw that too! I was like, hang on, was it always like that??
Watched this one without commentary actually. Was nice(r). Was that pitch made of molasses? We could have taken a few more shots from distance. Should’ve converted the couple we did take from point blank.
Ah, the glamour of early stage Champions League nights – glad we have 2 more of these than earlier.
With thie defensive foundation and a keeper in world class form, we’ll be incredible when we actually start playing football.
Partey looks like a shadow of himself. Passing was really poor throughout the field, we so miss Odegaard and the creativity he provides. I would go with Trossard in the midfield until Merino can come back or even give Calafiori a try and defensive mid (after the City game) as he looks very comfortable there.
Instead of a simple solution for Odegaard’s absence Arteta chose to put Havertz at 10 and Jesus at 9. Neither worked. His continued insistence on playing an obviously out of form Martinelli is forcing him to overcomplicate. Trossard is simply a more productive winger than Martinelli. Havertz is our best striker. Rice is a world class 6. I hope we see a back to basics at the weekend as Arteta’s convolutions aren’t working.
If we played Trossard on the wing, Havertz at 9 and Rice as a (lone) 6, we’d have two 8 positions to fill…
Nwaneri replacing Odegaard is worth a shot. The other is why I wouldn’t have sold ESR
It’s obvious Arteta had an eye on the weekend with this line-up. was clear as day the moment he made subs so early. It’ll be Trossard in the Odegaard role on Sunday I would bet.
Not sure what more Raya needs to do to get a 10/10. He was perfect this evening and that double save was one of the best pieces of goalkeeping I’ve ever seen.
Ball progression was poor generally, there was too much backwards stuff and relying on the keeper to recycle possesion. Our press never stressed them, they were able to keep the ball and push us back time and again. We were very solid defensively but too easily pushed back, and we couldn’t win it back, or get out once we finally did. It was a bit like playing Liverpool a few years ago when we crap, but without conceding the obligatory five goals. I wonder does missing Odegaard as the leader of our press pose as big a problem as the… Read more »
A solid defensive performance again but it’s concerning how little we create – apart from set pieces – we offer no real goal threat from open play.
Raya was easily a 10 for me, great to see his growing confidence. The rest of the performance was decent defensively but we’re really struggling for creativity without Odegaard. Ball progression through the middle was basically non existent until Trossard came on. Lots to think about before the City game, though I imagine it will mostly be the same starting 11
Arteta should had been brave enough to introduce Nwaneri in the second half. It’s the nearest we have to Ødegard
The moment after Partey gave the penalty away… I was deep in a monologue about how finished he is and how much of a reckless decision that was… but then I saw something in the eyes of David Raya that made me think, “wait a minute… is he gonna save this?… he’s gonna save it isn’t he?… he f***ing saved it!” Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I had so much confidence in my goalkeeper from the spot. we are blessed to have this guy.
So it seems no one thinks that was a soft penalty? C’mon It was ridiculous.
Agree. A Champions League peno for sure. Trossard needs to have a word with his Dad!
Our players seemed totally with the ball. First touch was poor and short passes missed their mark on numerous occasions by almost all the players. Big Gabi and Saliba probably the only exceptions. Don’t think that was on Arteta but the players.
Odegaard, you are amazing effing player. This performance only enhances his value in our team as lets face it we are hopeless without him. We set up good like Sean Dyke did against us but have you run up of ideas now Arteta as we are not fucking Everton and should be playing better. Of course WD are always going to miss Odegaard but FFS get a better team out as at the moment we look shit if you looked at Liverpool yesterday. They stole the show. We should not have any problem if anyone is absent. Just shows how… Read more »