De Roon: ‘A night Atalanta won’t forget against Arsenal’ | OneFootball

Marten de Roon said Atalanta want to ‘make it a night we won’t forget’ on their Champions League return against Arsenal in the newly revamped stadium.

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.

Fresh from winning the Europa League trophy, La Dea return to the Champions League and host one of the contenders for the Premier League.

They do it in the completed stadium, which underwent further restructuring work over the summer and only reopened at the weekend with a 3-2 victory against Fiorentina in Serie A.

“Under the floodlights, it is something special. Our last Champions League game here was played over three years ago, but now having the stadium full, we have to make it a night we won’t forget,” De Roon told Sky Sport Italia.

De Roon wants Atalanta intensity

Arsenal pushed Manchester City all the way in the Premier League title race last season and are coming off a victory against Tottenham Hotspur.

“We have to be very intense, as Arsenal play well, we need to be aggressive, make them play badly and then play our own football, as always. We have the home advantage, but the most important thing is proving that intensity.”

It has been a difficult summer for Atalanta, who lose several players to injury and transfers, while others like Ademola Lookman remained in the end. How is coach Gian Piero Gasperini getting the new players up to speed?

“We are doing what we always do. The coach teaches the new players the movements, but they are intelligent and eager to prove themselves with our team. We want to prove ourselves today,” concluded De Roon.

“We hope for a victory, a good result.”