UCL: “It’s a chess match” — Atlanta’s Ademola Lookman reflects on Arsenal draw

By Monsurah Olatunji

Nigeria international Ademola Lookman has opened up about the difficulties faced during Atalanta’s UEFA Champions League opener against Arsenal, which ended in a 0-0 draw at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo.

This European elite championship match marked Lookman’s return to the competition nearly five years after his debut with RB Leipzig.

Substituted in the 89th minute for Lazar Samardžić, Lookman delivered an impressive performance, completing the most dribbles and tackles while maintaining a remarkable 96% pass completion rate. Despite his contributions, he couldn’t manage a shot on goal, though he did create two chances, make two key passes, and recover the ball three times.

The match featured a critical moment when Atalanta’s Mateo Retegui had a penalty saved by Arsenal’s David Raya, which could have changed the outcome. Reflecting on the game, Lookman praised the quality of the opposition and the atmosphere.

“It’s hard against a team like Arsenal to find space; they are a top team,” he noted in a post-match interview.

“We had a plan and we were unfortunate not to score. We will take the positives out of it and move. It was kind of a chess match. Obviously, they are one of the top teams, and we matched them tonight. We’ll take the draw. Onto the next.”

Lookman’s insights stresses the competitive nature of the match and his commitment to improving in future games.