How the Italian press reported on Arsenal’s 0-0 draw against Atalanta | OneFootball

Italian media offered detailed coverage of Atalanta’s goalless draw with Arsenal in the Champions League, with reports focusing on the missed opportunities for Atalanta and the resilience of Mikel Arteta’s team.

The draw, while a solid result for Arsenal, left many in Italy feeling that Atalanta had the better of the game, particularly given the penalty miss by Mateo Retegui.

Here’s a review of how the two leading Italian outlets, Corriere della Sera and La Gazzetta dello Sport, covered the match.

Corriere della Sera: Missed opportunity for Atalanta

20 September 2024 Corriere dello Sera Missed opportunity

Corriere della Sera was quick to highlight how Atalanta missed a golden opportunity to secure a victory, particularly pointing to Retegui‘s missed penalty and follow-up chance that were both expertly saved by David Raya.

The match, which ended 0-0, was described as a tense affair, with Atalanta’s aggressive, man-to-man pressing game putting Arsenal under significant pressure throughout.

The report emphasised how Atalanta dominated stretches of the game and how Arsenal, despite their individual quality, struggled to break out of their own half for large portions.

BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 19: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, acknowledges the fans after the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD1 match between Atalanta BC and Arsenal FC at Stadio di Bergamo on September 19, 2024 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

“Arsenal did not expect such an intense and aggressive approach,” the piece stated, noting how Atalanta’s wingers and defenders frequently disrupted Arsenal’s rhythm. This strategy, particularly with offensive play down the wings, caught Arsenal’s four-man defence off guard multiple times, but Atalanta failed to capitalise fully.

Despite the 0-0 result, Corriere della Sera praised Atalanta’s performance, calling it “an excellent debut on the game plan” and suggesting that the Italian side’s energetic play and solid defence made them strong contenders to advance.

The crowd at the newly completed Gewiss Stadium was also described as a “12th man,” adding intensity and atmosphere that the paper claims further rattled Arsenal.

La Gazzetta dello Sport: David Raya, the hero for Arsenal

20 September 2024 La Gazetta dello Sport – “Dea, I’m so sorry The most serious mistake is on the rebuttal”

Meanwhile, La Gazzetta dello Sport focused heavily on the performance of Arsenal’s goalkeeper David Raya, crediting him as the key figure in keeping the game scoreless.

Raya’s penalty save from Retegui, followed by his quick reflexes to block the follow-up, were described as “the game’s defining moment.” The Italian paper labelled Raya “the hero of the Gunners in Bergamo,” praising his ability to keep a clean sheet in such a hostile environment.

BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 19: David Raya of Arsenal FC dives to save a shot during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD1 match between Atalanta BC and Arsenal FC at Stadio di Bergamo on September 19, 2024 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

The outlet also highlighted comments from Declan Rice, who acknowledged the strength of Atalanta, stating, “They won the Europa League, they have the same coach for a long time, they are also very difficult to work out because they mark you man-to-man and chase you all over the field.”

Rice’s remarks reflected Arsenal‘s recognition of the challenge posed by Gian Piero Gasperini’s side, who kept Arsenal’s forwards, particularly Gabriel Martinelli, quiet for most of the night.

La Gazzetta also noted that while Arsenal’s attack was far from its best, they remained “compact, concrete, and difficult to overcome,” lauding their ability to stay organised despite Atalanta’s pressure.

BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 19: Mateo Retegui of Atalanta BC misses a penalty during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD1 match between Atalanta BC and Arsenal FC at Stadio di Bergamo on September 19, 2024 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

However, the Italian press did suggest that Arsenal appeared “content” towards the end of the match, as they sat deep and defended, an observation that led to criticism of their lack of risk-taking in the final stages.

Atalanta’s tactical approach and missed chances

Both Italian outlets were united in their praise for Atalanta’s tactical approach, noting that the team’s high pressing and use of the wide areas caused problems for Arsenal throughout the match. Cuadrado came close to scoring on two occasions with powerful shots from outside the box, and Atalanta’s offensive efforts were largely concentrated on exploiting the flanks.

The central takeaway from both reports was that Atalanta played with a European mentality, and while they missed the penalty, their overall performance should give them confidence going forward.

BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 19: Atalanta BC coach Gian Piero Gasperini salutes the fans at the end of the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD1 match between Atalanta BC and Arsenal FC at Stadio di Bergamo on September 19, 2024 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

The report from Corriere della Sera remarked that Atalanta “sent Arsenal to the dentist,” indicating that the Gunners found it tough to play their usual free-flowing football. The outlet added that Arsenal were perhaps fortunate to come away with a point, given Atalanta’s dominance in certain phases of the match.

Raya’s redemption and Arsenal’s defensive solidity

For Arsenal, the major takeaway from La Gazzetta dello Sport was their defensive performance, led by David Raya. The report noted that Raya’s key interventions, particularly on Retegui’s penalty and header, ensured Arsenal secured their fourth clean sheet in five games.

Arsenal’s defensive solidity, despite being pressed back for much of the game, was highlighted as a positive, though their inability to break down Atalanta raised some concerns.

BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 19: Raheem Sterling of Arsenal takes on Juan Cuadrado of Atalanta during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD1 match between Atalanta BC and Arsenal FC at Stadio di Bergamo on September 19, 2024 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

The Italian press seemed to agree that while Arsenal could have offered more going forward, their tactical discipline and ability to grind out a result in difficult circumstances were noteworthy.

In particular, La Gazzetta emphasised how this approach could serve them well in the long run, especially when facing challenging European opposition.

Conclusion: A missed opportunity for Atalanta, a resilient Arsenal

In summary, the Italian media viewed the 0-0 draw as a positive for both teams, albeit with contrasting perspectives.

Atalanta will rue the missed opportunity, particularly Retegui’s penalty, but their aggressive approach and tactical awareness drew admiration from the Italian press.