Inconsistent Atalanta have returned to their customary playing style under Gian Gasperini. The Italian side prefers to play open football, which suits Arsenal well, as the team boasts several stars capable of punishing opponents for their mistakes.
The loss of Teun Koopmeiners, along with injuries to Giorgio Scalvini and Gianluca Scamacca, has not forced Atalanta to adopt a more defensive style. Setbacks against Torino (1:2) and Inter Milan (0:4) led to significant corrections during the international break, and afterward, they managed a 3:2 victory over Fiorentina. The impressive debut of forward Mateo Retegui, who has netted four goals in Serie A, indicates that Gian Gasperini has reliable attacking options. It is also worth noting that Atalanta lead the league in xG (9.17), while they rank last for expected goals conceded (8.64).
In the Premier League, Arsenal have been playing more conservatively, though this is partly due to personnel losses. In the derby against Tottenham Hotspur (1:0), Mikel Arteta was unable to field Martin Ødegaard and Declan Rice, yet still secured three points thanks to free kicks and corners. For the Champions League opener, the team will only miss the Norwegian among their key players, suggesting they will score their customary one or two goals in Bergamo. The last time Arsenal failed to score was in April, when they lost to Bayern Munich in an away Champions League fixture. Since then, they have scored in 10 consecutive matches.
Most likely, Atalanta will open up the game early with the support of their home crowd. The Italian side always plays attacking football and will create chances and eventually break through. Arsenal do not have an impeccable defence, but they are also very strong in attack, so we are betting on both teams to score.
