Atalanta vs Arsenal Prediction, Odds and Betting Tips: Back this 8/1 Bet Builder on Thursday

Arsenal start their Champions League campaign with an away game against Atalanta on Thursday 19th September, live on TNT Sports 1 at 8pm.

Scott Thornton has previewed the match and supplied his best bets.

Mikel Arteta might be tempted to rest some players with a trip to the Etihad looming at the weekend but there is no room for error amongst Europe’s elite.  

It’s been a mixed bag of results for Atalanta so far this season. They have taken six points from their four matches in Serie A. Gian Piero Gasperini’s side recovered from a crushing defeat against Inter by beating Fiorentina 3-2 at the weekend but Arsenal should prove to be a tougher test.  

The Gunners earned a narrow win over Tottenham at the weekend. Mikel Arteta’s side are bracing themselves for a title race once again but they are already two points behind Manchester City in the Premier League after drawing 1-1 with Brighton in their last home match.  

For my main Atalanta vs Arsenal bet builder, I'm backing under 39.5 tackles and under 39.5 throws in the match at 7/10 with bet365. 

Tackles have been scarce in Atalanta matches this season. There has been an average of just 27.75 tackles across their four matches in Serie A. None of those encounters have seen more than 31 tackles. Atalanta played 13 European games on their way to winning the Europa League last season and those matches saw 34.38 tackles on average.  

There was an average of 32 tackles per game in Arsenal’s Champions League group games last season. Their away matches throughout the competition saw an average of 29.8 so under 39.5 should be reasonably comfortable.  

Mikel Arteta’s side played five European matches on the road last season and there were fewer than 39 throws in four of those with an average of just 32.6 per game. Arsenal are patient in possession and willing to change the point of their attack rather than force the play into wide areas so their matches often lack throws. This trend was evident in the Premier League last season when the Gunners’ matches saw the fourth fewest throws in the division with an average of 29.53. Their matches so far this season have seen an average of 30.25 throws. 

There is often a correlation between tackles and throws in a game so it’ll come as no surprise that Atalanta’s matches so far in this campaign have also lacked throws. There has been an average of 32.75 in their outings thus far. This bet builder has won in three of those four matches.  

For my longer odds bet builder, I'm backing the same props angles as the main bet but with more difficult lines to achieve: Under 33.5 Tackles and Under 34.5 Throws.

The average amount of tackles and throws in Atalanta games this season is below these lower lines so it looks a solid bet. My other tip for the clash is for Arsenal to win.

Mikel Arteta’s side have picked up 10 points from their opening four Premier League matches. They have conceded just one goal over that period. That solitary goal came when Arsenal were a man-light thanks to a second yellow card picked up by Declan Rice for kicking the ball away. The Gunners will fancy their chances of holding firm and getting the job done here, to bring my second bet builder to 8/1.

Atalanta vs Arsenal Bet Boosts