Atalanta’s Nigerian striker No.11 Ademola Lookman takes part in a training session on the eve of the UEFA Super Cup Real Madrid vs Atalanta Bergamo in Warsaw, Poland on August 13, 2024. The 2024 UEFA Super Cup final between Real Madrid and Atalanta will be played at the National Stadium in Warsaw on August 14, 2024. (Photo by Sergei GAPON / AFP) (Photo by SERGEI GAPON/AFP via Getty Images)

As Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta prepare to face Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal in the first round of the Champions League on Thursday night, here are three key clashes to keep an eye on when the teams face off at 8pm BST.

Ademola Lookman vs Benjamin White

Ademola Lookman is back in contention for Atalanta after a summer of transfer speculation and celebrated his return to Gasperini’s starting line-up with a goal and a world-class assist in an entertaining 3-2 win over Fiorentina in Serie A at the weekend.

The Ballon d’Or candidate is one of several Atalanta players with Premier League experience and is likely to face Arsenal right-back Benjamin White in attacking phases.

White has established himself as one of the Premier League’s most solid right-backs, but is also valued for his involvement in build-up and attacking play, often drifting into midfield or further forward on the right wing. If La Dea can lure him forward, Lookman could have more space to do his thing on the counterattack.

Raoul Bellanova vs Gabriel Martinelli

Reports on Thursday suggest that summer signing Raoul Bellanova will start at right wing-back for Atalanta, meaning he will most likely face Gabriel Martinelli on Arsenal’s left flank.

Both are about the same age, have a lot of pace and will try to exploit the space that arises when one of them is in a bad position.

There will also be an exciting battle on the opposite flank, but it remains to be seen whether England international Bukayo Saka will be given the nod from the start. Leandro Trossard or Raheem Sterling are the most likely candidates to step in. According to reports on Thursday morning, Davide Zappacosta is preferred to Matteo Ruggeri on Atalanta’s left flank.

Ederson/Marten De Roon against Kai Havertz

With Martin Odegaard missing, Kai Havertz is expected to start in attacking midfield for Arsenal. He will most likely face the double six of Ederson and Marten De Roon.

The Dea duo will work together to leave as little space as possible in midfield, with the Brazilian in particular being outstanding the last time he faced Premier League opposition, helping Atalanta to a 3-1 aggregate win over Liverpool in April.

Havertz has two goals and one assist in his first four league games of the season, but those have come in his role as a de facto striker. He is expected to start in the position he has played since he was a young boy, as a trequartista, and it will be interesting to see how he fares against the resilient Atalanta duo.