Win boosts Atalanta ahead of Arsenal showdown
Atalanta sits eighth in the Italian top flight with two wins and two defeats from its first four games of 2024-2025, but will take positives from a 3-2 win in a thriller against Fiorentina, coming ahead of a big opening week in the UEFA Champions League.
La Dea twice trailed to goals from Lucas Martinez Quarta and Moise Kean, only to fight back for victory with Mateo Retegui, Charles De Ketelaere and Ademola Lookman scoring.
Gian Piero Gasperini led Atalanta to UEFA Europa League glory last season, and it is preparing to step up to the revamped UEFA Champions League, with Arsenal the visitor for its first league-phase match next week.
Gasperini knows the Gunners, who beat Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 in the north London derby, will provide a huge test.
"It's not just their aerial power, it's the way they run and move the ball. They have fantastic dynamism," he said.
"Arsenal are a great reference point in England, they dominated the Premier League last season along with Manchester City and Liverpool.
"We have never played against them and I think they will be a big test for us because of their intensity, quality and pace.
"We’re not used to teams with those characteristics, this could be a problem for us."
Gasperini also expressed frustration with the recent international break, noting that it had complicated efforts to prepare the team for its European campaign.
"Having the break for international duty was not helpful, as so many of them left again straight away," he said.
"I think first of all this team needs to find solidity, get those mechanisms running smoothly."
