Arsenal make the trip to Italy for their opening game in the new Champions League format against an Atalanta side that have been hit-and-miss in Serie A this season.
These two sides have never met before and we're bringing you our predictions for Thursday night's encounter.
Contents
Atalanta vs Arsenal prediction: Away win on the cards?
Key Stats
- Atalanta have lost four of their last six competitive and non-competitive matches.
- The Gunners have kept clean sheets in four of their last five outings.
- Under 2.5 goals have been produced in each of the visitor's last five fixtures.
Correct score prediction: Atalanta 0-2 Arsenal
Atalanta have lost and failed to score on three occasions in their last six matches while Arsenal have claimed wins-to-nil in four of their last five outings, which is why we're backing a correct score of 2-0 in the English side's favour.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Odds stacked against Atalanta
- HOME: 3/1 (4.00) – 25%
- DRAW: 17/6 (3.83) – 26.1%
- AWAY: 11/12 (1.92) – 52.2%
*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
Arsenal are the expected winner of this game with a probability of 52.2% and we can't argue with the bookmakers on this one.
You can find all our predictions for today's games on our football betting tips page.
Most recent H2Hs: First-ever encounter
Atalanta and Arsenal lock horns for the first time in their history on Thursday night and it is the Premier League side that head into the game as the bookmakers' pick to win.
Atalanta preview: Hit-and-miss
Atalanta lost the UEFA Super Cup to Real Madrid but kicked off the new Serie A season with a 4-0 win over Lecce.
However, back-to-back defeats against Torino and Inter Milan followed before Atalanta returned to winning ways at home to Fiorentina at the weekend.
Former Everton defender Ben Godfrey is currently injured for Thursday's hosts and Rafael Toloi, Gianluca Scamacca and Giorgio Scalvini will also miss the game.
Predicted lineup: Carnesecchi (GK), Djimsiti, Kolasinac, Bellanova, Hien, Ruggeri, de Roon, Ederson, De Ketelaere, Lookman & Retegui
UEFA Champions League 02/10/24
W
Shakhtar Donetsk
0
Atalanta
3
Italy Serie A 28/09/24
D
Bologna
1
Atalanta
1
Italy Serie A 24/09/24
L
Como
3
Atalanta
2
UEFA Champions League 19/09/24
D
Arsenal
0
Atalanta
0
Italy Serie A 15/09/24
W
Fiorentina
2
Atalanta
3
Arsenal preview: Started strongly
The Gunners are yet to taste defeat in their opening four Premier League games and will be hoping to take that form into the new Champions League format this week.
Arsenal beat Wolves 2-0 on the opening weekend and then claimed an impressive 2-0 win at Aston Villa. A draw with Brighton was disappointing but their victory in the North London derby last weekend made up for that and sees Mikel Arteta's side sitting second in the table behind Manchester City.
Martin Odegaard, Riccardo Calafiori, Mikel Merino and Takehiro Tomiyasu could all miss the trip to Italy this week through injury.
Predicted lineup: Raya (GK), Gabriel, White, Timber, Saliba, Jorginho, Partey, Havertz, Trossard, Saka & Martinelli
UEFA Champions League 01/10/24
W
PSG
0
Arsenal
2
England Premier League 28/09/24
W
Leicester
2
Arsenal
4
England EFL Cup 25/09/24
W
Bolton
1
Arsenal
5
England Premier League 22/09/24
D
Man City
2
Arsenal
2
UEFA Champions League 19/09/24
D
Atalanta
0
Arsenal
0
Player to watch: Bukayo Saka
Bukayo Saka has started the new season in great form and we have selected the England international as our player to watch against Atalanta.
Saka has scored one goal and set up an impressive four in his opening four league games and you wouldn't bet against the inside forward adding to either of those tallies on Thursday night.
Saka already has four assists to his name in the Premier League this season
We're predicting another top performance from one of Arsenal's most consistent players, their chief creative threat and a source of goals.
