David Raya’s heroics in goal ensured Arsenal escaped with a goalless draw against Atalanta in their Champions League opener at the Gewiss Stadium.
The Spanish goalkeeper’s sensational double save early in the second half kept the Italian side at bay in a match that otherwise saw limited goal-scoring opportunities.
The first half lacked significant action, with Arsenal’s best chance arriving within the first 15 minutes.
Bukayo Saka’s curling free-kick from just outside the box forced Atalanta’s goalkeeper, Marco Carnesecchi, into a smart low save.
That early effort, however, was a rare moment of intent from the Gunners, who soon found themselves on the back foot.
Despite dominating possession, Atalanta struggled to break down a resolute Arsenal defense.
Mikel Arteta’s side, wary of the hosts’ attacking threat, frequently retreated into a deep defensive setup, with Gabriel Jesus dropping back to support the midfield and thwart the Italians’ build-up play.
Raya’s moment of brilliance came shortly after the break. When Thomas Partey fouled Ederson in the box, Atalanta’s Mateo Retegui stepped up to take the penalty. Raya guessed correctly, diving to his right to parry the initial strike.
But the danger was far from over. Retegui reacted quickly, heading the rebound towards what seemed like an open goal.
In a breathtaking display of reflexes, Raya scrambled to his feet and clawed the ball off the line, leaving the Atalanta forward and home fans stunned.
The match briefly sparked to life following Raya’s double save, but neither side could capitalize on their chances.
Juan Cuadrado, making his debut for Atalanta, threatened with two speculative long-range shots, both narrowly missing the target.
For Arsenal, Raheem Sterling’s introduction added a spark; the English winger, now the first player to represent four different Premier League clubs in the Champions League, nearly set up a winner.
Sterling’s quick feet and precise passing found Gabriel Martinelli in space inside the box, but the Brazilian fired his shot over the bar, squandering the Gunners’ best opportunity to snatch all three points.
The final whistle signaled a result that, while not thrilling, will likely satisfy both managers. Arsenal, still finding their rhythm in the competition, now face a grueling stretch of fixtures.
Their focus shifts to a high-stakes Premier League clash against Manchester City on Sunday, followed by a marquee Champions League encounter against Paris Saint-Germain at the Emirates Stadium.
Atalanta, meanwhile, will take confidence from their performance as they prepare for their next European test, a trip to Germany to take on Shakhtar Donetsk.
