Former Gunner looking forward to facing Arsenal in Champions League

Sead Kolasinac is looking forward to making his first Champions League appearance for Atalanta against former club Arsenal on Thursday night.

Former Gunner Sead Kolasinac featured for Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup against Real Madrid last month, but he was then ruled out of action through injury for the next few weeks.

The defender made his return to action against Fiorentina on Sunday, and not a moment too soon, as he’s now fit to face his old club Arsenal in the Champions League.

“I’m happy to see my old team-mates again, it’s special,” Kolasinac said. “I’m happy to make my debut here in the Champions League tomorrow.”

Kolasinac says Atalanta are well prepared for a test against Arsenal, aware of the challenge the visiting club will pose.

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

“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.”

Kolasinac has appeared in Champions League fixtures before, playing in the competition in 2012/13 and 2013/14 with Schalke, then in 2022/23 with Marseille. But he never played in it with Arsenal.

Kolasinac joined Arsenal as a free agent in 2017, making 118 appearances over a period of five seasons. He then joined Marseille on a free transfer in 2022, before moving to Atalanta on another free in 2023.

The Atalanta move has been a successful one so far, with Kolasinac winning the Europa League last season. The rest of his career honours were with Arsenal – two Community Shields and an FA Cup.

It’s only fitting that the two will face off against each other in Thursday’s League Phase opener.