Atalanta 0–0 Arsenal: Champions League report 

Champions League: Atalanta 0-0 Arsenal - David Raya Gunners hero after double save from penalty 

David Raya saves Arsenal as the Gunners earn hard-fought Champions League point at Atalanta 

David Raya proved to be Arsenal’s Champions League penalty saving hero after denying Mateo Retegui with a superb double save on Thursday evening in northern Italy.

In the passionately atmospheric cauldron that was Atalanta’s Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia, the Gunners goalkeeper kept out a second half spot kick from Atalanta’s No23, before following up with an even better athletic block moments later to deny the home side victory 

While Arteta revealed the Gunners talisman captain Martin Odegaard had picked up a ‘substantial’ ankle ligament injury that would rule the influential Norway captain out for an unspecified period of time, Arsenal welcomed back Declan Rice, who returned to the starting XI following his controversial sending off against Brighton at the end of August. 

Amid the relentlessly ear-splitting cacophony of noise, provided by Atalanta’s passionate fans throughout the match - after serving up a colourful blue and white Tifo display before kick-off - Bukayo Saka’s early low free kick forced a full-stretch save from Atalanta keeper Marco Carnesecchi. Prior to the Rimini-born 24-year-old then thwarted Thomas Partey following up.

Partey then fired narrowly over the bar five minutes later as the visitors searched for an opener.

Just before the half hour mark, Charles De Ketelaere’s effort flew across David Raya and just the wrong side of the Arsenal’s keeper’s far post, in a reminder that Gian Piero Gasperini’s current Europa League holders are emphatically not Champions League cannon fodder. 

Far from it, as, emboldened by the booming home support they pushed the visitors backline deeper and deeper – even if, despite the tremendous atmosphere, the game flickered, rather flamed, in a goalless opening 45 minutes 

Little did we know the match was about to burst into life two minutes after the interval, when Thomas Partey tangled with tangled with No15 Marten de Roon in the box, leaving referee Clement Turpin no choice but to award a penalty – even if VAR took an interminable age to confirm.

Up stepped Retegui to take the fateful penalty.

As the stadium fell momentarily silent for the first time during the game, in expectation of a successful outcome, a stuttering run up from Atalanta’s No32 saw Raya guess correctly and pull off an excellent save.

Better was to come for Spain’s Euro 2024 winner, as the Gunners keeper – who celebrated his 29th birthday by keeping a clean sheet during last Sunday’s North London derby victory -pulled off a second, arguably better save, to deny the crestfallen Retegui.

Once the ball was cleared the Arsenal team surged over to the former Brentford keeper to acclaim his brilliance, after demonstrating such outstanding anticipation, reflexes and bravery in making the pair of superb stops in a matter of moments – keeping the score goalless and leaving Atalanta frustrated.

As the match progressed it was Arsenal who were left frustrated with only 15 minutes remaining, when Gabi Martinelli fired over when well-placed, leaving jack-in-the-box boss Arteta frustrated on the sidelines.

With Spurs beaten in the North London derby last weekend, with Manchester City up next at the Etihad on Sunday, a hard-fought point at the intimidating Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia was well-earned by hero Raya.