Ademola Lookman will aim to score his first goal in five games against Arsenal whom Atalanta face in their UEFA Champions League group opener at the Gewiss Stadium on Thursday.
Lookman scored five times from three Europa League starts at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, however, he has never found the net in four career appearances against the Gunners.
He played twice against Arsenal in the 2017/18 and 2018/19 seasons while he was still at Everton with the Nigerian losing the first Premier League game 5-2 before a 1-0 triumph.
Lookman played another Premier League game against Arsenal in 2020/21 during a loan spell at Fulham, securing a 1-1 draw before he lost 2-0 on loan at Leicester City in 2021/22.
Atalanta return to the UCL after memorably lifting their first European trophy last season, becoming the only team to beat Bayer Leverkusen, winning 3-0 in the Europa League final.
Back in May, a Lookman hat-trick helped La Dea get over losing the Coppa Italia final a few days earlier and the Nigerian attacking sensation is also in the mood to score more goals.
After La Dea lost two of their first three Serie A matches, they appear to be back as they twice fought back from behind to beat Fiorentina on Sunday with Lookman scoring the winner.
Meanwhile, Lookman has said that he and his teammates are charged for the clash with Arsenal. “We are charged and ready to face the match with the right spirit,” the Nigerian ace said.
“Arsenal are a very strong team and I know what to expect from them,” he acknowledged. “Playing against a team of that level is always a difficult challenge but we are ready,” he said.
Atalanta booked their Champions League ticket through a stellar Serie A campaign last season and Lookman is determined to prove their rightful place on Europe’s biggest stage this term.
“We earned this place in the Champions League thanks to our great last season and we want to show that we deserve to be here,” he emphasized. “The Gewiss Stadium will be full to it’s brim.
“And it will be a special environment for a European night like Thursday.” He joined Atalanta from RB Leipzig for €9.3m in 2022 and has scored 33 goals and rendered 19 assists in 80 games.
