The turning point came when Arsenal’s Ghanaian Thomas Partey committed a clumsy challenge on Ederson, leading to a penalty for the Italian side.
Arsenal began their Champions League campaign with a frustrating 0-0 draw against Atalanta in Italy, where Super Eagles star Ademola Lookman played a key role for the hosts. This was Lookman’s second start of the season after missing the opening three games due to injury.
Returning to full fitness, he made an immediate impact, showcasing his influence and strong presence on the pitch.
The match began with Arsenal dominating in the first 20 minutes, controlling the tempo and pressing forward. However, despite their early dominance, the gunners struggled to create any significant opportunities finding themselves stymied by Atalanta’s organized defense.
Lookman, who recently impressed in Atalanta’s 3 – 2 win over Fiorentina contributed to his teams attacking effort throughout the first. Both sides pushed hard for the opening goal, but the halftime whistle blew with the score still locked 0 – 0.
The second half saw shift in momentum as Atalanta began to assert their dominance offensively. The turning point came when Arsenal’s Ghanaian Thomas Partey committed a clumsy challenge on Ederson, leading to a penalty for the Italian side. Mateo Retegui stepped up to take the penalty but Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya delivered a crucial save diving to his left to deny Atalanta the lead.
As the match progressed, both teams continued to search for a breakthrough but neither could muster any meaningful chances, resulting in a goalless draw by the final whistle. While the outcome was disappointing for both sides, Lookman’s performance stood out. His ability to create space and link up play was vital in maintaining Atalanta’s defensive solidity and attacking threat.