Atalanta vs Arsenal Prediction: Trossard to get on the scoresheet

Atalanta host Arsenal at Gewiss Stadium on Thursday (20:00, TNT Sports 1) for the opening fixture of the new-look Uefa Champions League. The Italian outfit have enjoyed a mixed start to their Serie A campaign with two wins and two defeats, but they will be hoping that their Europa League glory from last season can serve them well at this level.

The Gunners are unbeaten in the Premier League and will be spurred on (pardon the pun) by their win over rivals Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend. Read on for my Atalanta vs Arsenal prediction, including match odds and team news.

Atalanta vs Arsenal Odds

Atalanta are 3/1 to win this clash, which gives them a theoretical chance of 25%. Arsenal are valued at 9/10 for the away win, giving them an implied probability of 52.6%. The draw is available at 13/5 (27.8%).

Both teams to score can be backed at 4/6 and over 2.5 goals is marketed at 8/11. Atalanta forward Mateo Retegui leads the way in the Serie A scoring charts this season with four goals already. He is priced at 23/10 to score anytime, or 13/2 to open the scoring.

Kai Havertz has two goals in the Premier League for Arsenal and he is the 2/1 favourite to score at any stage of this match, while you can get 9/2 on him to open proceedings.

Football Odds

Team News 

Atalanta are without two strong options in Gianluca Scamacca and Giorgio Scalvini, with both players set to be out for a long period of time through injury. Defenders Ben Godfrey and Rafael Toloi missed out on the weekend against Fiorentina and so both are considered doubts for this Champions League opener.

On a better note for boss Gian Piero Gasperini, two defensive players have returned to fitness after their own injury problems in Berat Djimsitl and former Gunners man Sead Kolasinac. Midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo returned to the bench at the weekend, so he could also play a part in this clash.

Serie A top scorer Retegui should keep his place up front and he will likely be supported by Ademola Lookman, whose hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen secured Atalanta their first major European honour.

The attacker has featured once in the league this term so far, which could be down to a proposed move to Paris Saint-Germain over the summer failing to materialise, but in that 3-2 win over Fiorentina, Lookman provided a goal and an assist.

Arsenal can welcome back Declan Rice to the fold following his one-game suspension in the league, but his midfield partner Martin Odegaard is still a couple of weeks away from returning due to injury.

Summer signings Mikel Merino and Riccardo Calafiori are in the treatment room too, as are Kieran Tierney, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Rice will likely partner Thomas Partey in midfield as Mikel Arteta could opt for a similar shape to the one he deployed in the victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka (although he picked up a knock at the weekend) and Leandro Trossard could keep their spots, but there is doubts over Gabriel Martinelli's involvement from the start, so Raheem Sterling could be in line for his full Gunners debut.

Gabriel Jesus returned from injury at the weekend as a late cameo, so he could also have a role to play in Bergamo.

Arsenal and over 2.5 goals @ 7/4

I like this Arsenal team as they have the right balance in all areas of the pitch. It's affected right now because of Odegaard's injury but there is still more than enough quality for them to get off to a winning start in Europe in his absence.

Having Rice back will be a big boost because there will be some more quality in the middle of the park, although credit must go to Partey and Jorginho for the way they handled themselves on Sunday as there were concerns about the midfield without Rice and Odegaard.

The attacking players are very good and I expect them to be lively on Thursday. They will have seen that Atalanta have already conceded eight goals in Serie A, so they will be sensing that their back line is vulnerable.

The Italian side have also scored eight, however, and on home soil, you have to expect them to create a few chances. Unfortunately for them, they are facing a tough defence, and I believe Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba are the best centre-back pairing in the Premier League, and arguably Europe right now.

They will be confident after keeping a clean sheet in the North London Derby, which was away from home, and of course Gabriel was the match-winner. The Gunners carry such a threat from set-pieces which the hosts will need to watch out for.

I expect the Gunners to win this contest but I wouldn't be surprised to see Atalanta get in on the action, so I have gone for over 2.5 goals to boost the odds.

Leandro Trossard anytime goalscorer @ 11/5

I've been a huge fan of Trossard in an Arsenal shirt. Signed after the Gunners missed out on Mykhailo Mudryk - and you have to say Arsenal have had the last laugh. The Belgian attacker's versatility has been a huge help to Arteta in matches, and of course the goals.

Trossard netted 12 in the Premier League last term, as well as four in the Champions League - where he was the club's joint-top scorer alongside Jesus. With the types of goals he has scored in an Arsenal shirt, I would consider him to be their best finisher, and so I fancy his chances to get on the scoresheet in this clash.

The 29-year-old has just one goal so far this season and he will be eager to start scoring more regularly so he can try and surpass last season's figures.

Offers

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