Arsenal hold Atalanta in Champions League opener

Spanish goalkeeper's stunning penalty save keeps Atalanta at bay in Bergamo.

BERGAMO, Italy: Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya ensured his team earned a valuable point with a remarkable penalty save in a 0-0 draw against Atalanta in their Champions League opener on Thursday. The Spaniard dived to his right to deny Mateo Retegui's penalty in the 51st minute, then swiftly reacted to block Retegui's follow-up header.

Mikel Arteta's side displayed resilience, withstanding the pressure from Atalanta in a lively Stadio di Bergamo, while occasionally posing a threat on the counterattack. Arsenal's closest opportunity came from Bukayo Saka's well-taken free kick, which was saved by Atalanta's goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi, who also stopped Thomas Partey's rebound. Gabriel Martinelli missed a chance after the break, shooting over the crossbar in a rare Arsenal attack.

Despite missing their injured captain Martin Odegaard, Arsenal, though not at their best, managed to return to London with a point largely due to Raya’s heroics, who is now the club’s established first-choice goalkeeper. Atalanta’s penalty opportunity came when Partey tangled with Ederson on the edge of the box, prompting referee Clement Turpin to award the spot kick. After a lengthy VAR check, Retegui's low effort was anticipated by Raya, who then demonstrated impressive agility to make the double save.

"It was a tough game, but we made it hard for them as well," Raya commented. "A point away in the first Champions League match is good. We could have played better, but if you can't win, don't lose." Reflecting on his penalty save, he added: "I was fortunate to dive the right way and quick enough to block the rebound. Keeping a clean sheet was fantastic."

This marked the first meeting between the two clubs. Atalanta, who finished fourth in Serie A last season and won the Europa League, might feel frustrated not to have claimed a victory, but Gian Piero Gasperini's side demonstrated they will be formidable opponents in the group stage. Charles De Ketelaere came close with a shot wide in the first half, while substitute Juan Cuadrado narrowly missed the target late in the match.

"I have great respect for Arsenal, and tonight they didn’t create much in attack but proved they are solid and tough to break down," Gasperini remarked. "We will grow stronger from this experience and learned a lot."

Arsenal will next face Paris St Germain at home, but their immediate focus is on Sunday’s Premier League match against champions Manchester City. "We’re all fighting for each other, and that will be vital at The Etihad on Sunday," said midfielder Declan Rice. "We’re aiming to win; it’s crucial for our season."