Arsenal were held to a goalless draw at Atalanta on Thursday, thanks to David Raya’s heroics in goal, despite a difficult start to their Champions League campaign.
Mikel Arteta’s side earned a point in Bergamo following a low-key performance in a raucous atmosphere at the renovated Gewiss Stadium.
The Premier League team would have been defeated if goalkeeper Raya had not made an incredible double save to prevent Mateo Retegui from scoring from the penalty spot and again on the rebound early in the second half.
Arsenal, missing Martin Odegaard due to a serious ankle injury sustained while on international service with Norway, were fairly solid but lacked inventiveness moving forward, and despite an early spell of control, never looked like winning.
Arsenal face league title rivals Manchester City on Sunday, and they will need to put on a better performance than they did on Thursday in northern Italy.
Atalanta, the Europa League holders, had the better of a close encounter with little goalmouth action and will be pleased by their performance in their first Champions League match since being eliminated in the group stage in 2021.
Arsenal dominated the opening exchanges, and only Marco Carnesecchi’s superb double save prevented the away side from taking the lead in the 13th minute.
The Italian saved Bukayo Saka’s drilled free kick with a superb fingertip save before sprinting over to prevent Thomas Partey on the rebound.
Atalanta is used to dictating game rhythms, especially at Anfield, but Arsenal initially forced the hosts to make repeated blunders with the ball.
It took nearly half an hour for Atalanta to earn a clear shot on goal, and Charles De Ketelaere hammered high and wide after being set up well by Retegui on the outskirts of the box.
However, they came into the game and had the perfect opportunity to take the lead two minutes after halftime when Ederson was clumsily hauled down by Partey in the penalty box.
But Raya did an excellent job of guessing the correct direction for Retegui’s penalty and then somehow getting across the goalline to deflect the Italy forward’s rebound header off the line.
The closest anyone came to scoring after Raya’s amazing goalkeeping was Atalanta substitute Juan Cuadrado, who blasted two long-range rockets that went barely over and inches wide as both clubs settled for a draw.