Mikel Arteta’s men began their 2024-25 UEFA Champions League journey in underwhelming fashion. Look back on the action with the best facts and Opta data in our Atalanta vs Arsenal stats page.

David Raya’s crucial penalty saved allowed Arsenal to battle to a 0-0 draw away 2023-24 UEFA Europa League winners Atalanta in their Champions League opener on Thursday.

Thomas Partey clumsily tripped Ederson in the box to gift Atalanta the opportunity to open the scoring in the first half, but Raya saved Retegui’s spot-kick and then managed to keep out the follow-up in a remarkable display of athleticism.

That was his fourth penalty save from his last eight spot-kicks faced (including shootouts), an incredible return considering he’d not kept out any of the previous 19.

It was just as well he was so alert; Arsenal lack invention going forward and managed just six shots, their poorest return in a Champions League away game since September 2014.

Nevertheless, they held on to a point on a night that could have so easily ended with them going home empty handed.

Our Opta match centre delivers you all the Atalanta vs Arsenal stats from their Champions League meeting at the Gewiss Stadium.

The match centre below includes team and player stats, expected goals data, passing networks, an Opta chalkboard and more. It gives you everything you need to do your own post-match analysis.

Underneath the match centre you can find the official Opta stats on the game as well. 

Atalanta vs Arsenal: Post-Match Facts

  • Atalanta played out their first ever 0-0 draw in the UEFA Champions League in what was their 24th match in the competition, with their previous 23 games providing 83 goals in total, an average of 3.6 per game.
  • Arsenal have failed to score in three consecutive Champions League away games for the first time since February 2007, while they’re winless in four-straight games (D2 L2) on the road in the competition for the first since September 2011 (D1 L3).
  • Raheem Sterling became the first player in European Cup/UEFA Champions League history to play for four different English clubs, having previously played for Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea in the competition.
  • David Raya became just the fourth Arsenal goalkeeper to save a pen in the UEFA Champions League, after Richard Wright, Jens Lehmann and Lukasz Fabianski (2).
  • Including shootouts, Arsenal’s David Raya has saved four of the last eight penalties he has faced in all competitions, after conceding each of the 19 in a row beforehand. 
  • Arsenal attempted just six shots against Atalanta, their fewest in a UEFA Champions League away game in 10 years, since having just five shots against Borussia Dortmund in September 2014.
  • Arsenal’s Kai Havertz made his 50th Champions League appearance tonight, the first to reach this milestone while playing for the Gunners since both Theo Walcott and Per Mertesacker did so in the same game (against Bayern Munich) in October 2015.

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