One member of the Atalanta squad will need no introduction to the talent at Mikel Arteta’s disposal ahead of Thursday’s Champions League clash with Arsenal.
While much has changed at the Emirates since Sead Kolasinac departed back in 2022 – The Gunners finished fifth that previous season – there will be no shortage of familiar faces when Arsenal touch down in Bergamo.
Kolasinac played alongside Martin Odegaard, Ben White, Gabriel Magalhaes, Thomas Partey and Gabriel Martinelli at the Emirates Stadium.
Bukayo Saka too, of course.
And, understandably, Kolasinac may not be looking forward to the idea of going head-to-head with Arsenal’s talismanic number seven on the flank during this week’s Champions League group-stage opener.
Bukayo Saka’s Arsenal face Atalanta in Champions League
The Bosnian left-back is likely to find himself in direct competition with right-winger Saka, after all.
And having presumably been the runaround by the London Colney graduate on many an occasion on the training pitch, this is a reunion Kolasinac could do without.
“Saka is a fantastic player,” the former Schalke and Marseille defender tells Tuttomercatoweb.
With an assist in each of Arsenal’s four games so far in 2024/25, Saka is obviously the first name on the lips of Atalanta supporters when discussing the biggest weapons in Arteta’s armoury. Especially with captain Odegaard out injured with an ankle problem.
Kolasinac also cannot speak highly enough of the man in the Gunners dugout these days. Even if it was under Arteta – who signed a new contract last week – that the German-born 31-year-old lost his place before leaving by mutual consent.
“I think he’s doing a great job. He tries to put every minute of his time into the club, and this is starting to show results,” adds Kolasinac. “He’s an extraordinary coach. Very young.
“He still has a lot of room for growth.”
Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini was equally effusive in his praise.
While labelling Arsenal a ‘beautiful team to watch‘ on their day, he also highlighted the organisation and the discipline of a side who restricted Tottenham to an XG of just 0.7 in Sunday’s hard-fought North London derby victory.
William Saliba and matchwinner Gabriel Magalhaes once again proved that they deserve their status as – to quote Rio Ferdinand – ‘the best (centre-back) pairing in Europe’.
Sead Kolasinac applauds Mikel Arteta transformation
“Arsenal won the derby against Tottenham. The team is confident regardless of the latest results,” Kolasinac adds. “They have great players and are solid in defence. Very dangerous from set pieces.
“The coach has prepared us well. We have to show on the pitch what our plan will be. We are facing a team with an excellent game plan, who can press you high. They manage to stay compact, we have studied them well.
“They are a young team.”
Atalanta head into the game as the reigning Europa League holders.
A scintillating hat-trick from Ademola Lookman – who earned comparisons with Saka on the night and has since been linked with Arsenal themselves – saw La Dea stun a previously-undefeated Bayer Leverkusen in May’s final.
“They are a team that I really appreciate,” Gasperini tells Tuttomercatoweb of Arsenal. “They are very compact and organised, they are a great example of football.
“The results speak for themselves even if they failed to win the Premier League. Are they the favourites? I always trust the (events on the) pitch. Everyone has their own opinions.
“I don’t know (Arteta) personally. But, as a coach, he has all my respect. (Arsenal are) a beautiful team to watch.”
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