Champions League: Arsenal Held by Atalanta in a Thrilling Draw
Arsenal were held to a 2-2 draw by Atalanta in a thrilling Champions League Group F encounter at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday. The Gunners were looking to bounce back from their opening-day defeat to Manchester City, but they were ultimately made to settle for a point after a late equaliser from Duván Zapata.
The first half was a tense affair, with both sides struggling to create clear-cut chances. Arsenal had the better of the early possession but were unable to break down Atalanta's well-organized defence. The Italian side, however, were dangerous on the counter-attack and almost took the lead when Josip Iličić struck the post.
The breakthrough finally came on the stroke of half-time when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gave Arsenal the lead. The Gabon international finished off a well-worked move with a deft touch that left the Atalanta goalkeeper with no chance.
Arsenal looked to be cruising after the break, but Atalanta responded with a goal of their own. The visitors levelled the score in the 61st minute when Zapata volleyed home from close range after a pinpoint cross from Robin Gosens.
The game then became an end-to-end thriller, with both sides desperate for a winner. Arsenal had a number of chances to reclaim the lead, but they were thwarted by a combination of poor finishing and excellent goalkeeping from Juan Musso.
Atalanta then took the lead for the first time in the 83rd minute when Zapata beat the offside trap and slotted the ball past Bernd Leno. However, Arsenal were not done yet, and they equalised just four minutes later through a powerful header from Bukayo Saka.
The final whistle blew with the score at 2-2, leaving both sides with a point apiece. The draw means that Arsenal are still searching for their first win in Group F, while Atalanta are now unbeaten in their last four Champions League matches.
Here are some of the key takeaways from the match:
- Arsenal's defence was again vulnerable. While they showed glimpses of brilliance going forward, they were far too open at the back, particularly in the second half.
- Aubameyang continues to be a threat. The Arsenal captain was again the focal point of their attack and he showed his quality with a brilliant goal.
- Atalanta are a formidable force. The Italian side were well-organized and they showed great resilience to come back from behind twice.
- This was a must-win game for Arsenal. Dropping points at home to Atalanta is a major blow to their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Arsenal will be looking to bounce back from this draw when they face Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday. They will need to improve defensively if they are to get anything from that game.
As for Atalanta, they will be confident of getting a positive result in their next Champions League match against FC Midtjylland. They have a good chance of qualifying for the knockout stages if they can continue to play with the same intensity and determination.
