Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio v Arsenal FC
Hello! How are you, hope you are well?
On Thursday, September 19th at 8.00pm (western European time) we haul our Mighty Cannon like old Hannibal over the Alps, down into Bella Italia and set up attacking positions at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo, Lombardy, Italy, Europe, the planet Earth, the Milky way, the Universe, the Multiverse? and take on the men from Atlantis.
We’ve never played this team before so this is new territory for us, but its back to having a Champions League laugh! The whole competition has been revamped, but personally I welcome this new system, hinting perhaps at what a Euro-Super League might be like (like? it is a Euro-Super League!)? I’m not sure if it will stay, but hopefully it will make things exciting. How do you feel about the shiny new CL format?
The Atalanteans don’t seem to have made a major trophy haul in their history until last season (winning the UEFA cup), some wins here and some win there so I’m sure they will relish the visit by the Arsenal and will try to continue their run of good form in recent years in the hope of silencing the our Ashburton Grove artillery.
“Arsenals guns don’t argue” said Prince Buster
Ben Godfrey the ex-Everton player plays in their defence, old rival Scamacca from West Ham plays up front, and was their top scorer last season. Also playing for them is ex -Arsenal fan favourite/ fan scapegoat Sead Kolašinac, who has one goal in thirty. Atlantis are highly regarded for their youth system and have many ex- youth team players playing in top clubs in Serie A and further afield and have the ability to swim well underwater, just like Patrick Duffy.
Apparently this is a team that likes man to man marking across the pitch, high levels of pressing and to play with two hard working physical midfielders rather than keeping their play-makers in deeper controlling positions ( he said trying to sound like the expert of experts and convincing nobody). This system has garnered some criticism for both scoring and allowing goals, so if the Arsenal have their shooting boots on its could be exciting( come on Sterling show us what you’ve got!).
Certainly I expect a lot of noise from their fans, although its not such a big shed though, holding only 21,747.
Atalanta had a poor start to this season, one win in four, not including losing to Real Madrid in the Super cup( CL winners v UEFA C winners) which is how they qualified for this competition (in fairness they also qualified through coming 4th in Serie A).
Not be laughed at though, they took down Liverpool on the way to the UEFA cup final last year, and beat Bayer Leverkusen in the final (their first loss in 52), much to our old friend Xhakas annoyance. As stated before, Atalanta finished 4th in their league last year, behind Juve and the two teams from Milan, it was their 13th consecutive year in the top flight.
Atalanta also made it to the Coppa Italia final but lost 1-0 to Juventus. Should have asked Paul Vaessen to help them?
At the time of writing this they are sitting 12th in Serie A, but play rivals Fiorentina next (Sunday 15th) before hosting us. Fiorentina are one position above them. But not now as since I originally wrote this Atalanta beat them 3-2 and now are in 8th.
They are ranked on the CL co-efficent ratings at 61.000 while the Arsenal are at 62.000
The win probability prediction for Arsenal is 52%.in this game. Gasperini the Atalanta manager has a 51% win rate for them in 390 games, but his over all win% is 45.70% in 838 games.
Well that’s it, lots of bits and pieces that anyone could have picked up on any street corner for 25p. Even so, here’s to a great game for us and lucky horses!
COYG and keep on keepin’ on!
Mills
Positively Arsenal 
Thank you Millsy,
Love the ska reference. Another great preview. What do I think of the new format? First I’ve heard about it. Pissed off with Thursday kick off though. I work on Thursday evenings. What the hell were they thinking???
So Likely Lads for me then.
LikeLike
Great preview Millsey,
Our European performances in the last couple of seasons have been vastly different from our PL form, with some pretty shaky offerings.
The team are definitely getting wiser and this season you would hope we should grow into the competition especially with the new format allowing greater grace to progress.
Jesus seems to be a different animal in the CL and if is included in a goal involvement tonight he will be equalling records.
This appears to be a tricky away day but again because of the format a draw would be a decent result to start with.
Strangely enough it’s not performance or result which is priority here it’s getting all the players home again and fit for Sunday.
Having said all that I am a football fan and so obviously believe we will win comfortably COYG.
LikeLike
Steww, I still have the 45 on Blue Beat
LikeLike
Thanks lads, much appreciated. COYG!
LikeLike
LikeLike
LikeLike
Trossard refereeing again excellent COYG.
LikeLike
Keown commentating
LikeLike
Trossard reffing LOL! Keown commentating also LOL!
Good save from Raya, thankfully Retegui headed closer to Raya on the rebound, we might have been in trouble if he had put it further away from him. I hope Martinelli scores soon as his confidence looks in shreds.
Tough week travelling big games etc might see plenty ‘resting’ when Bolton come?
COYG!
LikeLike
Apparently that’s the sixth time Trossard has reffed us and we’re unbeaten, won five drawn one. In all seriousness I think he is a very good ref.
Another clean sheet on a night we couldn’t create much up front. We lost control of the game after twenty minutes to a side that although very good doesn’t like possession.
Actually everything considered, away from home, quality of opposition, oppressive atmosphere, the result was very good.
As I said before the game the result and performance wasn’t as important as the condition of the players afterwards. Although we didn’t pick up any fresh injuries the late substitutions and non use of the bench probably will add to the fatigue for Sunday.
Alot of the side ran their socks off last night which is worrying. Jesus and Stirling either are not fit or are not in tune when the rest of the side, I certainly hope that changes very soon otherwise we have made more costly mistakes in the window again.
Partey has shown, in patches, this season he can be useful but time and time again players just ran past him and he looked like he was a labourer who was long past retirement. I was surprised he wasn’t replaced in the summer but I think the massive outlays in previous seasons has now hamstrung our progress.
This is where the ability to give young squad players is invaluable, unfortunately we know that’s not one of Mikel’s favourite pastimes and so the likes of Joe, Emile, Eddie and Reiss, I that could have improved the squad so much, have all moved on.
LikeLike
City preview is up.
LikeLike