Fri Sep 20 07:03:51 UTC 2024: ## Arsenal Held to Goalless Draw by Atalanta in Champions League Opener

**Bergamo, Italy -** Arsenal were held to a frustrating goalless draw against Atalanta in their opening match of the revamped Champions League on Thursday. David Raya’s heroic double save early in the second half prevented Atalanta from taking the lead, ultimately saving Arsenal from defeat in a tough encounter.

The Gunners, missing the injured Martin Odegaard, controlled the early stages of the match, but lacked creativity going forward. A fantastic double save from Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi denied Arsenal the lead in the 13th minute, pushing away a Bukayo Saka free-kick before blocking a rebound attempt by Thomas Partey.

Atalanta grew into the game and were awarded a penalty after Partey fouled Ederson in the penalty area. Raya, however, guessed correctly to save Mateo Retegui’s spot-kick, then reacted instinctively to claw away the rebound header from the Italian forward.

Neither side could find a breakthrough in the latter stages, resulting in a disappointing draw for Arsenal, who now face a crucial match against title rivals Manchester City on Sunday.

**Other Champions League Results:**

* **Barcelona** fell to a 2-1 defeat at **Monaco** after Eric Garcia was sent off early in the match.
* **Atletico Madrid** snatched a 2-1 victory over **RB Leipzig** thanks to a 90th-minute winner from Jose Maria Gimenez.

**This news article is based on the provided text and focuses on the key highlights of the match.**

Read More