Leandro Trossard’s missed penalty late in the match left Arsenal’s narrow 1-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Champions League looking less flattering than it could have been. The game, held at the Emirates Stadium in north London, saw Arsenal’s Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus displaying his skills in front of Shakhtar’s Ukrainian goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk. However, the unfortunate highlight was Riznyk’s own goal in the first half, which ultimately secured Arsenal’s win.
Post-match, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta candidly acknowledged that his team was struggling with “fatigue.” This comes on the heels of a disappointing 2-0 defeat against Bournemouth in the Premier League over the weekend. That loss was Arsenal’s first in all competitions since their Champions League quarter-final second leg at Bayern Munich in April. Though the team did manage to secure three points against Shakhtar, the performance was far from convincing, relying heavily on Riznyk’s accidental own goal following a strike from Gabriel Martinelli.
The Gunners certainly had opportunities to extend their lead. Leandro Trossard’s missed penalty in the dying moments of the match would have significantly cushioned the scoreline. Arteta remarked, “It’s always difficult in the Champions League. We should have scored more in the first half and the second half I felt a bit of fatigue. Credit to Shakhtar, they are brave. When you give them time on the ball and you lose the ball, you will suffer.”
Reflecting on the game dynamics, Arteta noted that having played with 10 men previously took a toll. “Playing 60 minutes with 10 men a few days ago is difficult. We left the game a bit open but we dug in for three points,” he explained. A point of contention arose concerning the penalty choice, with Arteta frustrated that Trossard took it instead of Kai Havertz. “I don’t know. He is one of the takers but Leo took it,” said Arteta.
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Adding to Arsenal’s woes was Riccardo Calafiori’s injury, who was forced off in the second half with a knee issue, further depleting a squad already missing key players like Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, and Jurrien Timber. With French defender William Saliba suspended for the forthcoming Premier League clash against Liverpool, Arteta faces a selection headache. He confirmed that “Saka is not training yet so he won’t be available and Calafiori felt something and could not stay on. A bit of a worry,” expressing his concerns about the team’s growing injury list.
Despite securing seven points from their first three Champions League games, Arsenal’s recent performance was a stark contrast to their commanding 2-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in their previous match. On the other hand, Shakhtar remains goalless in the tournament from their three games. The Ukrainian champions made a grueling 17-hour journey to London by bus, train, and plane, reflecting their commitment amidst war-imposed challenges at home.
The match itself had its tense moments. Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino amusingly likened his team to an NBA squad, given the stature of nine players who started against Bournemouth. This physical dominance was evident in their set-piece execution, yet went uncapitalized early on when Trossard’s corner met an unfortunate miss by Calafiori.
Gabriel Jesus, donning the captain’s armband, presumably for a morale boost after a goalless streak spanning 22 games, was guilty of misfiring a Havertz pass directly at Riznyk. Trossard, too, missed an opportunity, heading wide before Riznyk expertly intercepted a Martinelli attempt. The lethargy in Arsenal’s attack was palpable late in the match when a handball by Shakhtar’s Valerii Bondar awarded them a penalty, which Trossard failed to convert, prompting a nervy end to the match.
In a dramatic finish, Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya made crucial saves, first pushing away a powerful shot from Pedrinho and then clenching a header from Marlon Gomes as Arsenal clung to their lead.
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