September 19th 2024.
Arsenal's manager, Mikel Arteta, was livid after his team was unfairly penalized by French referee Clement Turpin during their Champions League match against Atalanta on Thursday. Arteta's frustration was evident on the sidelines as he was seen mimicking the referee's actions.
Despite their disappointment, Arsenal managed to secure a goalless draw against the Serie A club in their first game of the Champions League campaign. It was a tightly contested match with both teams having few clear-cut chances. However, Arteta's goalkeeper, David Raya, saved the day with a stunning double save, denying Mateo Retegui's penalty and follow-up attempt.
Throughout the game, Arteta was highly animated on the touchline, and at one point, he appeared to mock Turpin, much to the amusement of the fans. After Arsenal was penalized for a foul during a corner-kick situation, Arteta turned to the fourth official and imitated blowing a whistle, suggesting that the referee was biased against his team.
In the post-match interview, Arteta expressed his disappointment with the result but acknowledged the importance of taking a point when a win was not possible. He also praised Raya's exceptional save, calling it one of the best he had ever seen.
Former Manchester United defender, Rio Ferdinand, also weighed in on Arsenal's performance, agreeing with Arteta's assessment that they caused their own problems. He pointed out their sloppy possession and lack of control in the forward areas, especially in the second half. However, he also acknowledged that Atalanta played their part in making it a difficult game for Arsenal.
Ferdinand highlighted the importance of retaining possession in Champions League matches and suggested that players like Martin Odegaard could help with that. He also noted that while Arsenal showed flashes of their potential, they were not dominant enough and would need to improve in certain areas to get a result against Manchester City in their upcoming Premier League match.
Looking ahead, Arsenal's next Champions League game is against Paris Saint-Germain on October 1. But for now, their focus is on their Premier League clash against Manchester City on Sunday. It will be a tough test for Arteta's side, but they will be determined to bounce back from their draw against Atalanta.
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