The much anticipated match between Arsenal and Atalanta, which marked both sides' first game of the 2024–25 Champions League season, unfolded as a technical tableau rather than a goal-fest amid the lush valleys of Bergamo. Under the crisp Italian sky, the evening took on a theatrical flare mainly because to Arsenal's David Raya's gloves. Raya's tenacity was evident in a game when defense rigidity was just about to take over. Mateo Retegui's penalty was miraculously saved by him twice, giving Arsenal a vital point.
With Arsenal wearing their typical red and white, the game looked promising from the start. Almost immediately after, Bukayo Saka's powerful free-kick changed the score, setting the tone for an Arsenal-dominated match. Nevertheless, Arsenal's momentum was gradually stifled by Atalanta's disciplined, man-to-man defensive style, which made the game a midfield labyrinth that neither team could successfully negotiate.