Gasperini urges Atalanta ‘humility and ambition’ with Arsenal | OneFootball

Gian Piero Gasperini assures Atalanta intend to face Arsenal with ‘courage, humility, ambition and not just to defend’ in the Champions League showdown, calling the Gunners ‘a complete team.’

It kicks off at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the LIVEBLOG.

La Dea return to the Champions League, having won the Europa League trophy last season by hammering Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in the Final.

It is also happening in the finally finished Gewiss Stadium, which underwent further restructuring work over the summer and only reopened at the weekend.

“If you don’t feel butterflies in the stomach, then there’s no emotion and that’s what the sport is all about. We are up against a great team in a wonderful stadium full of people, so it’s the atmosphere we would always want,” Gasperini told Sky Sport Italia.

Gasperini ready to attack Arsenal

It had been reported he would choose Mario Pasalic rather than Charles De Ketelaere, but has gone for the all-attack system that also took Bayer Leverkusen apart last season.

“We need courage yes, not arrogance, but we want to play our football and not just defend. Against these opponents, you risk not seeing the ball very much and regardless of the result, we want to put in a performance and stick to our characteristics.”

Gasperini was asked in what way Atalanta are superior to Arsenal.

“We are a little more humble than that, we leave that to commentators to say. We do believe we can play our game, the way we have done against everyone, with the right humility and also great ambition.”

The Gunners pushed Manchester City all the way in the Premier League title last season and Gasperini is impressed with Mikel Arteta’s work.

“Arsenal are a real Team with a Capital T, as they defend and attack with all their players, the forwards track back to help, they press, can play in tight spaces, have pace and players who can shoot from distance. They are a complete team.

“What we need to do is measure up to them, see how much we can get, how much we can stop them playing their best football, but fundamentally we also aim to create our own chances.”