Arsenal vs Atalanta: Player Ratings
The Gunners continued their impressive Champions League campaign with a 3-0 victory over Atalanta on Tuesday night, solidifying their position atop Group F. Here's a look at the player ratings for both sides:
Arsenal:
- Aaron Ramsdale (8/10): A commanding performance from the English goalkeeper. Ramsdale made several crucial saves, including a stunning stop from a powerful Zapata shot in the first half. His distribution was also excellent.
- Takehiro Tomiyasu (7.5/10): The Japanese fullback was a rock at the back, effectively containing Atalanta's attacks down his flank. His defensive solidity was a key factor in Arsenal's clean sheet.
- Ben White (7/10): Solid and composed at the back, White formed a strong partnership with Gabriel Magalhaes. His ability to read the game and intercept passes was vital.
- Gabriel Magalhaes (7.5/10): The Brazilian center-back was a dominant force in the air and on the ground. He consistently won his duels and cleared danger with ease.
- Kieran Tierney (7/10): Tierney provided attacking width on the left, overlapping well and delivering dangerous crosses. He also contributed defensively, putting in a strong shift against Atalanta's creative wingers.
- Granit Xhaka (8/10): The Swiss midfielder controlled the midfield with his usual authority. His passing was incisive, and he was a calming influence on the pitch, allowing Arsenal to dictate the tempo.
- Thomas Partey (7.5/10): Partey continued his impressive form with a dominant display in midfield. He tackled hard, protected the backline, and moved the ball efficiently.
- Emile Smith Rowe (8/10): The young Englishman was a constant threat with his dribbling skills and precise passing. He delivered the assist for Saka's goal and was a driving force in Arsenal's attacking play.
- Martin Ødegaard (8/10): Ødegaard orchestrated Arsenal's attack with aplomb. His passing range and vision were key in breaking down Atalanta's defense, and he provided the assist for Xhaka's goal.
- Bukayo Saka (9/10): The England international put in another stellar performance. He opened the scoring with a clinical finish and was a constant menace on the right flank.
- Alexandre Lacazette (7/10): Lacazette led the line effectively, holding up the ball and creating space for his teammates. His movement and link-up play were key to Arsenal's success.
Atalanta:
- Juan Musso (5/10): Had a difficult night, making several mistakes that allowed Arsenal to score. His lack of communication with his defense was also apparent.
- Rafael Toloi (6/10): Tried his best to organize the defense but was often caught out of position.
- José Luis Palomino (5/10): Struggled to deal with Arsenal's attacking threat, especially Saka and Smith Rowe.
- Berat Djimsiti (5.5/10): Unimpressive performance from the Albanian defender. He was often beaten by Arsenal's pace and movement.
- Hans Hateboer (6/10): A frustrating night for Hateboer. He was unable to get into the game and lacked his usual threat.
- Marten de Roon (6/10): The Dutch midfielder was a tireless worker but couldn't dictate the midfield battle against Arsenal's more dynamic midfielders.
- Remo Freuler (6/10): Similar to De Roon, he was unable to impose his will on the game.
- Teun Koopmeiners (6/10): The Dutch midfielder showed glimpses of creativity but wasn't able to impact the game significantly.
- Aleksey Miranchuk (5/10): A frustrating night for the Russian midfielder. He couldn't find space and was ineffective in his attacking role.
- Duván Zapata (5/10): Struggled to make an impact against Arsenal's strong defense. He lacked sharpness in front of goal and was unable to get into any dangerous positions.
- Josip Iličić (6/10): Tried to spark Atalanta's attack but was unable to find a breakthrough against Arsenal's well-organized defense.
Overall: Arsenal were deserved winners, showcasing their dominance with a convincing performance. They were composed defensively, efficient in possession, and clinical in attack. Atalanta, on the other hand, struggled to find their rhythm and were ultimately outplayed by a superior Arsenal side.
