Arsenal’s upcoming Champions League clash with Atalanta is set to be a tricky one, as the hosts will provide top-quality opposition for Mikel Arteta’s side.
Atalanta will host Arsenal in Bergamo in the first matchday of the league phase of the Champions League, with both teams aiming to get off to a good start.
This is the first season in which the Champions League will not have a traditional group stage, and Arsenal will have eight games to contend with to reach the knockout rounds.
Arsenal qualified for the Champions League after a second-place finish in the Premier League last season, whilst Atalanta finished fourth in Serie A and also won the Europa League.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s side smashed Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in the Europa League final, with the German champions shocked as their season-long unbeaten run came to an end.
Former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka was outstanding for Leverkusen last season, but he was torn apart as Leverkusen lost the final, with Ademola Lookman scoring a hattrick for Atalanta.
Xhaka’s performance on the day, as well as his reaction to the game, should serve as a warning for Arsenal that Atalanta are not to be underestimated.
How Atalanta nullified Granit Xhaka in Europa League final
Xhaka was excellent for Leverkusen following an outstanding final season at Arsenal, and he was crucial to his side’s build-up play, with his world-class passing ability helping Leverkusen tick.
However, Atalanta’s relentless pressing exposed his lack of mobility, and Xhaka was powerless to resist the Italian side, with Lookman causing serious damage after bypassing him in midfield.
Speaking after the Europa League final, Xhaka was clear in his assessment of Atalanta’s quality, and explained how they prevented him from showing his usual quality.
“Honestly, we’re not interested in the unbeaten record. We didn’t care about that from the start,” Xhaka stated after Leverkusen lost 3-0 to Atalanta.
“It’s about the game and unfortunately we lost a final today. That’s football. We said yesterday that it would be a difficult game. Compliments to Atalanta.
“It’s a shame it didn’t work out in the final. We looked so good up until this game and the fact that we didn’t manage to do what we usually do so well in the final is a part of the game. We have to accept that.”
Granit Xhaka’s warning for Arsenal stars Jorginho and Thomas Partey against Atalanta
Veteran midfielders Jorginho and Thomas Partey started in the North London derby with Declan Rice absent, but whilst they secured the win, both had moments of struggle off the ball as their inferior physicality showed, despite their immense quality on the ball.
Both players are now similar to Xhaka, in the sense that they can offer incredible distribution in possession, but they are vulnerable to the press.
Xhaka’s nightmare performance against Atalanta last season should warn Jorginho and Partey that they will not have a lot of time on the ball when facing Gasperini’s side.
Arteta will have to find a solution to deal with the hosts’ pressing when it comes to his experienced midfield pair, given the risk of Arsenal being overrun in the middle like Leverkusen were, and both midfielders may have to analyse how someone of Xhaka’s stature was prevented from showing his true quality.
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