“That particular Arsenal player is a threat to European football… All my defender are scared of him, I’m finished”: Atalanta coach says Arsenal has ONE player that none of his defender wants to face

HusseinSeptember 18, 2024Last Updated: September 18, 2024

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Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini has heaped praise on Arsenal – but insisted his team are ready to cause another upset.

Gasperini led Atalanta to the Europa League last season as they knocked out Liverpool on the way and now a face a major Champions League against Mikel Arteta ’s Arsenal. Atalanta have set their sights on qualifying for the knock-out stages from the new-look Champions League format.

Veteran coach Gasperini, 66, who says Ademola Lookman is fit to face the Gunners, said: “Atalanta must not think that they are on par with these teams, but Atalanta has always played for just one result and will do so tomorrow too.

“We start with a very tough obstacle, but it will be an opportunity to measure ourselves. I don’t know Arteta personally, but as a coach he has all my appreciation, it’s a nice team to watch.

“It’s a team that I really appreciate, it’s very compact and organised, it’s a good example of football, the results speak for them even if they didn’t manage to win the Premier League.

“But we had an excellent run in the Europa League, we won a competition that had been missing for many years.

“The objective now is for us to stay inside, it will be difficult to get into the top eight. To stay between ninth and twenty-fourth we have to take points in every match.”