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Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka has been declared fit for the club’s opening Champions League match against Atalanta on Thursday, despite being substituted late in the recent derby win over Tottenham due to an injury. Manager Mikel Arteta confirmed that Saka participated in most of the team’s training session and is ready to play.
However, Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard will miss the match due to a “quite significant” ankle injury, while midfielder Declan Rice returns after missing the Spurs game through suspension. Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori is also available after recovering from injury.
Arteta expressed confidence ahead of the match, aiming for progress in the competition after Arsenal’s quarter-final exit last season to Bayern Munich. Reflecting on that disappointment, he said, “We weren’t happy or satisfied at all because we want more… now we have to prove it.”
The match comes just days before Arsenal’s Premier League clash against Manchester City. When asked about the shorter preparation time compared to City, Arteta remained positive, emphasizing the energy his team gained from the Tottenham victory and the excitement of competing in the Champions League.
Former Arsenal player Sead Kolasinac, now with Atalanta, acknowledged the challenge of facing his old club but stated that his side has a gameplan ready to compete with the Gunners. “Arsenal won the north London derby and are full of confidence,” Kolasinac noted, adding that his team is prepared for the physically strong and tactically solid Arsenal side.
