Arsenal predicted lineup vs Atalanta - Champions League

Arsenal's 2024/25 Champions League campaign gets underway in a lesser-played Thursday fixture, with the Gunners travelling to Italy for their opener.

The Gunners, who have never won Europe's premier competition previously, kick off by journeying to Bergamo to face last season's Europa League winners Atalanta. The Serie A outfit are not to be underestimated and beat Liverpool, Bayer Leverkusen, Milan and Napoli over the course of 2023/24.

Arsenal, who fell at the quarter-final stage of the Champions League last term, can ill-afford complacency for their trip to the Gewiss Stadium, but will be buoyed by their recent north London derby triumph against Tottenham Hotspur.

Mikel Arteta has the majority of his prized assets available to him, including the returning Declan Rice, but skipper Martin Odegaard is sidelined and Bukayo Saka is an injury doubt.

Here is how Arsenal could line up in their first Champions League encounter of the season.

Arsenal predicted lineup vs Atalanta (4-3-3)

GK: David Raya - Arsenal's first-choice stopper has been in defiant form during the early weeks of the season with significant saves in victories over Wolverhampton Wanderers, Aston Villa and Spurs. In fact, his stop from Ollie Watkins' header was voted the best in the Premier League during August.

RB: Ben White - Likely to come up against the tricky Ademola Lookman in Bergamo, White will have to be on top form to stifle last season's Europa League final decider. Limiting Heung-min Son over the weekend is a positive sign for midweek.

CB: William Saliba - Another effortless display from Saliba earned Arsenal a third clean sheet of the season at the weekend but the in-form Mateo Retegui - who has scored four in four Serie A games this term - will keep him honest.

CB: Gabriel - The match-winner at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with a bullet header from close range, Gabriel once again showed his influence in both boxes on the big stage.

LB: Jurrien Timber - After a torrid 2023/24 in which he was sidelined with an ACL injury, Netherlands international Timber may make a third successive Arsenal start on Thursday. Filling in at left-back following injuries to teammates, the former Ajax man has done a sterling job to date.

DM: Thomas Partey - Arsenal's midfield looked significantly weaker than normal at the weekend as Partey was left without Rice and Odegaard in the engine room. However, the Ghanaian will be relieved to see the former return on Thursday, offering him more protection in central areas.

CM: Declan Rice - While Rice was a notable absentee at the weekend, with Arsenal struggling to control the midfield without him, his brief suspension at least offered him a breather. He should be fresh midweek.

CM: Kai Havertz - There were question marks over whether Havertz would drop into midfield on Sunday and those questions linger heading into Thursday's clash. Gabriel Jesus' return may force Arteta to utilise the German in the centre of the park given injuries elsewhere.

RW: Bukayo Saka - Saka is one of those struggling with his fitness prior to the Atalanta clash after hobbling off against Spurs. However, we've seen this before with the dynamic Englishman, who seldom misses a match for the Gunners.

ST: Gabriel Jesus - The Brazilian made a cameo against Tottenham but could be handed a larger role on Thursday. Up against three physical Atalanta centre-backs, his elite movement and ingenuity could prove pivotal.

LW: Leandro Trossard - Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Martinelli are competing for a berth on the left-hand side but Trossard has enough credit in the bank to bench them for now.

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