September 18th 2024.
Leandro Trossard is set to lead Arsenal's charge in the Champions League as they aim for a strong start to their campaign. It's not uncommon for fans to use a Spanish dictionary to decode Mikel Arteta's managerial style, often finding it to be similar to that of George Graham's. And this was evident in their recent game against Tottenham where, despite facing injuries, Arsenal managed to shut down their rival's attacks and secure a 1-0 victory.
Even though Spurs had more shots, corners, and possession, they were unable to break through the Gunners' solid defense. It was a classic display from Arsenal, reminiscent of their glory days. Gabriel's 64th-minute header sealed the deal and proved that Arsenal's defense is still a force to be reckoned with.
But the question on everyone's minds is whether they can replicate this defensive prowess in the Champions League against Atalanta. The answer is a resounding yes, although it's wise to wait and see if Arteta makes any changes to the starting lineup, especially with a crucial match against Manchester City on the horizon.
Bukayo Saka's injury may be a cause for concern, but the return of Declan Rice from a one-match ban will strengthen the Arsenal ranks. And with only minor alterations expected in the lineup, the Gunners will be hoping to pull off a slick performance in Italy.
It won't be an easy task, as Atalanta have proven to be a formidable team, despite their reputation of Italian clubs being defensively-minded. In fact, they caused a major upset in the Europa League final by defeating Bundesliga champions, Bayer Leverkusen. However, they have had a shaky start to the season and Arsenal will be looking to capitalize on that by soaking up the pressure and hitting back on the counter-attack.
A 1-0 victory, courtesy of Leandro Trossard, is a tempting bet at 15/2 with bet365. William Hill offers odds of 8/1 for the same outcome, while bet365 and Betfred give odds of 12/5 and 9/10 respectively for Arsenal to win to nil or outright.
In other news, Anthony Joshua is expected to overpower IBF champion Daniel Dubois in their heavyweight title fight at Wembley on Saturday. SpreadEx gives odds of 9/4 for Joshua to win within the first six rounds. Meanwhile, Luton, Birmingham, Stockport, and Doncaster form a strong football accumulator for Saturday's matches. But amidst all the excitement, Arsenal fans are also worried about Martin Odegaard's recent injury, as well as missing three former players. However, there is some good news for Arsenal as they gear up for their clash against Manchester City, with the latest injury scare turning out to be a false alarm.
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