Arsenal secured a hard-fought 1-0 win against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League, thanks to an own goal by Shakhtar's goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk. Despite the victory, the performance was less than convincing with Arsenal missing several key players due to injuries. The win places Arsenal provisionally in the top four of the league phase, with their next match away at Inter Milan.
In a Champions League match that lacked the usual flair, Arsenal managed to scrape a 1-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk, primarily due to an own goal from Shakhtar's goalkeeper, Dmytro Riznyk. The match saw Arsenal struggle to convert their chances, including a missed penalty by Leandro Trossard, but they held on to secure crucial points in the league phase of the tournament.
Arsenal's performance was far from their best, underscored by their reliance on an own goal to claim victory. The only goal of the match came in the first half when a shot by Gabriel Martinelli hit the post and rebounded off Riznyk into the net. Despite several opportunities, including a penalty awarded by VAR for a handball, Arsenal failed to extend their lead, with Trossard's penalty saved by Riznyk. The match statistics reflected a lack of clinical finishing, a concern for Mikel Arteta's side moving forward.
Despite the narrow scoreline, Arsenal's defense held up against Shakhtar's late attempts to equalize. Goalkeeper David Raya made crucial saves, including a remarkable stop during stoppage time to deny Pedrinho. However, the offensive side showed signs of struggle. Gabriel Jesus, who has not scored in his last 23 appearances, missed significant chances that could have eased the pressure on Arsenal. The team's inability to capitalize on opportunities, especially in the absence of key players like Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, was evident.
With this victory, Arsenal sits provisionally in the top four of the new 36-team league phase of the Champions League. The focus now shifts to their next match against Inter Milan, a crucial fixture that could determine their standing in the league phase. Mikel Arteta will be hopeful for the return of his injured players to bolster the squad as they navigate through this demanding phase of the tournament. The performance against Shakhtar, while not convincing, still provided valuable points and a continuation of their unbeaten start in the league phase.
Arsenal's 1-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk has provided them with crucial points in the Champions League, though the performance highlighted areas needing improvement. The team's ability to secure results despite not being at their best is a positive sign, but Arteta will be keen on getting his squad back to full strength to improve their play and consistency.
"It’s unfortunate for Dmytro Riznyk as Gabriel Martinelli’s shot canons back off the post and in via the Shakhtar goalkeeper" - Amazon Prime Video Sport