Atalanta winger Ademola Lookman has reflected on his side’s frustrating goalless draw with Arsenal in their opening Champions League fixture, expressing his disappointment at not taking all three points at the Gewiss Stadium.

Almost five years after making his debut, Ademola Lookman made his return to the Champions League last night.

His first appearance came on October 23, 2019, when he featured for RB Leipzig in their 2-1 victory over Zenit St. Petersburg.

Lookman put out a solid performance for La Dea in what turned out to be a tactical battle between the two teams, Footballrover reports.

Despite Atalanta’s best efforts, they were unable to break through Arsenal’s resilient defence, leaving them to settle for a 0-0 draw on Thursday night in Bergamo.

The Nigerian international, who was substituted in the 89th minute for Lazar Samardžić, put in a tireless shift on both ends of the pitch.

His good runs and defensive contributions earned him praise from both fans and manager Gian Piero Gasperini, but the lack of goals left Atalanta with a sense of unfinished business.

One of the game’s key moments came in the second half, when Atalanta had the perfect opportunity to snatch the lead.

Striker Mateo Retegui stepped up to take a penalty, but Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya denied him with a crucial save, preserving a point for the visiting Gunners.

Big saves. Big moments.

A performance to be proud of, David 👏 pic.twitter.com/d06uUnzGJK

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 19, 2024

However, speaking after the game, the Nigeria forward said,

“We had a plan and we were unfortunate not to score. We will take the positives out of it and move.”

Describing the match as a chess game, Lookman noted that his team held their own against one of the Premier League’s top clubs.

He added that they were satisfied with the draw and ready to move on to the next challenge.

Meanwhile, his manager, Gian Piero Gasperini, was full of praise for Lookman’s work rate, especially his defensive contributions.

Gasperini said the defensive work done by Lookman and the other attackers was admirable.

FULL TIME | Triplice fischio al Gewiss Stadium

Un punto a testa dopo una prestazione solida 🛡️#UCL debut ✅#AtalantaArsenal 0-0 FT #GoAtalantaGo ⚫️🔵 pic.twitter.com/my7rLQzTyJ

— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) September 19, 2024

While the result may not have been the victory Atalanta hoped for, Lookman’s performance—and his team’s overall resilience—offered plenty of reasons for the coach to be optimistic as they continue their Champions League journey.

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