Atalanta star Sead Kolasinac singles out ‘fantastic’ Bukayo Saka ahead of ‘special’ Arsenal reunion

Sead Kolasinac says he is relishing the opportunity to take on his former club Arsenal in the Champions League and has singled out Bukayo Saka as a serious threat to Atalanta’s chances.

The Serie A outfit are preparing to feature in Europe’s premier competition for the first time since the 2021/22 season and kick off their campaign with a daunting clash at home to one of the tournament favourites.

Former Arsenal defender Kolasinac swapped Marseille for Lombardy in July 2023 and played a key role last season as Atalanta secured Champions League qualification with a fourth-placed finish in the Italian top flight.

Gian Piero Gasperini’s side also ended Bayer Leverkusen’s remarkable 51-game unbeaten run last term to get their hands on the Europa League trophy, capping off a remarkable season in the club’s history.

Kolasinac previously played for the Gunners between 2017 and 2022 and lifted the FA Cup and two Community Shields with the north London giants before leaving for Schalke.

The Bosnia and Herzegovina international never got the chance to play in the Champions League during his time with Arsenal and is looking forward to walking out onto the field to make his debut in the competition at Atalanta’s Gewiss Stadium.

‘I’m happy to see my old team-mates again, it’s special. I’m happy to make my debut here in the Champions League tomorrow,’ Kolasinac – who was affectionately nicknamed The Tank at Arsenal – told reporters at a press conference on Wednesday.

‘It’s always difficult to play against English teams, they are physically strong.

‘We often watch the Premier League, we know that tomorrow will be difficult.

‘But we have prepared well and we will implement the plan we have prepared.’

Kolasinac believes Mikel Arteta’s men will be brimming with confidence in the wake of their north London derby victory over Spurs.

‘Arsenal won the derby against Tottenham, the team is confident regardless of the latest results,’ he added.

‘They have great players and are solid in defence, very dangerous from set pieces. The coach has prepared us well, we have to show on the pitch what our plan will be.

‘We are facing a team with an excellent game plan, who can press you high. They manage to stay compact, we have studied them well. They are a young team.’

The versatile defender applauded Arteta he had done at the Emirates and reserved special praise for the ‘fantastic’ Saka.

‘I think he’s doing a great job, he tries to put every minute of his time into the club and this is starting to show results,’ Kolasinac continued.

‘He’s an extraordinary coach, very young, he still has a lot of room for growth.

‘Saka is a fantastic player.’

Saka had been a doubt for this evening’s match after being forced off with a niggle in Arsenal’s 1-0 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.

However, it appears the England forward has shaken off the injury and is expected to be named in Arteta’s starting XI in Bergamo.

Oleksandr Zinchenko, Takehiro Tomiyasu and summer signing Mikel Merino are still struggling with injuries, though, and will not feature in the Gunners’ Champions League opener.

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