Arsenal Held to 0-0 Draw by Atalanta in Italy
A frustrating night for Arsenal as they were held to a goalless draw by Atalanta in the first leg of their Europa League Round of 32 tie in Bergamo, Italy.
The Gunners struggled to break down a resolute Atalanta defense, despite dominating possession and creating a handful of chances.
Here's a breakdown of the match:
First Half: Arsenal Dominate Possession but Lack Cutting Edge
Arsenal started the match brightly and dominated possession in the first half, but they were unable to find a way past a well-organized Atalanta defense.
The Gunners had a number of half-chances, with Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe coming close on a couple of occasions.
However, Atalanta were also dangerous on the counter-attack, with Duván Zapata forcing Aaron Ramsdale into a smart save early on.
Second Half: Frustration Grows for Arsenal
The second half saw Arsenal continue to dominate possession, but they struggled to create clear-cut chances.
Mikel Arteta made a number of substitutions in an attempt to inject fresh ideas into the attack, but the Gunners were unable to find a breakthrough.
Atalanta remained dangerous on the counter-attack, with Josip Iličić and Luis Muriel coming close to scoring on a couple of occasions.
Key Talking Points:
- Arsenal's Lack of a Clinical Edge: The Gunners struggled to convert their chances into goals, with a lack of cutting edge in the final third proving costly.
- Atalanta's Defensive Resilience: The Italian side were well-organized defensively and made life difficult for Arsenal's attacking players.
- Counter-Attack Threat from Atalanta: Despite dominating possession, Arsenal were vulnerable on the counter-attack, with Atalanta creating a number of dangerous opportunities.
Looking Ahead:
Arsenal will need to improve their attacking performance in the second leg at the Emirates Stadium if they are to progress to the Round of 16.
A goalless draw in Italy sets up a crucial encounter in North London. With the second leg to be played on March 10, Arsenal will be hoping to overcome their away-goal deficit and secure a place in the next round.
