Arsenal vs Shakhtar LIVE: Champions League result and reaction as Gunners claim tight victory
Arsenal 1-0 Shakhtar Donetsk: Dmytro Riznyk’s own goal secured the points for the Gunners
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Your support makes all the difference.Arsenal earned another three points in the Champions League league phase with a less than comfortable 1-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners needed a win after their defeat to Bournemouth last Saturday and their desire to score was evident throughout a dominant first half. They had 22 attacks and created eight attempts with Declan Rice, Gabriel Jesus and Leandro Trossard all coming close.
It was Gabriel Martinelli who broke the deadlock with what proved to be the decisive strike. The Brazilian cut in from the left and struck a fine effort onto the post. The rebounded and hit Shakhtar goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk on the back before bobbling over the line.
In the second half Arsenal were awarded a penalty for a handball following a VAR check but Leandro Trossard has his effort stopped by Riznyk in some redemption for the keeper. Shakhtar then fought back well and the signs were strong that an equaliser was coming.
It wasn’t to be though with David Raya leaping to the left to make a fine save late in the game to give Arsenal the win.
Relive the action with our live blog below:
How Arsenal could line up against Liverpool without five first-choice players
Arsenal’s victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League came at a cost as Riccardo Calafiori added to Mikel Arteta’s injury concerns just days before the Gunners host Liverpool in the Premier League.
Calafiori hobbled off with an apparent knee injury after landing awkwardly in the second half of the 1-0 win at the Emirates, with Arteta expressing concern for the Italian and admitting it was “not great news”.
Arsenal will be without the suspended William Saliba against Liverpool and Calafiori would have been a possible replacement to start against Arne Slot’s side alongside Gabriel Magalhaes.
Arteta could also be without versatile defender Jurrien Timber, who has been sidelined since the 2-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain earlier this month after making an impressive start to the new season.
Bukayo Saka missed his second game in a row as a result of the hamstring injury picked up while on England duty, with Arteta saying the forward is “unlikely” to face Liverpool as he is still yet to return to training.
How Arsenal could line up against Liverpool without five first-choice players
Arsenal could be without Buakyo Saka, Martin Odegaard, William Saliba, Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber against Liverpool
Riccardo Calafiori injury latest as Mikel Arteta provides update
Mikel Arteta said Riccardo Calafiori’s injury was “not great news” as the defender added to Arsenal’s injury pile-up ahead of the Premier League clash against Liverpool on Sunday.
The Italian hobbled off in the second half of Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League after landing awkwardly and stretching his leg.
Arsenal will already be without centre-back William Saliba as the France international serves a one-match suspension for his red card against Bournemouth last weekend.
Bukayo Saka was again absent due to a hamstring injury while Martin Odegaard remains out with an ankle injury and is unlikely to return in time for the visit of Liverpool.
Jurrien Timber, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu are also on Arsenal’s injury list but Arteta said Ben White’s half-time substitution against Shakhtar was tactical.
Riccardo Calafiori injury latest as Mikel Arteta provides update
Calafiori hobbled off as Arsenal defeated Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Tuesday night
Arteta expects Arsenal to be ‘flying’ against Liverpool
Mikel Arteta admitted his side were tired in the second half against Shakhtar, who could have earned themselves a point were it not for David Raya’s excellent save to deny Pedrinho’s long-range shot in the 92nd minute.
But the Arsenal boss expects his side to recover in time to be “flying” when they host league leaders Liverpool at the Emirates, in what is shaping up to be a crucial clash at this early stage of the season.
“We played two nights ago, with players coming back from internationals, after flying from Brazil and many countries,” Arteta said. “I was expecting a bit of a drop-off. And the fact that we put so much in the first half and didn’t get the distance in terms of the scoreline, we paid a bit for that.
“Then we made life more difficult for us because we started to give the ball away in not the right areas and then it was more open. That didn”t help. But we have now four days. And believe me, come Sunday we’ll be flying. We’ll be in the right place.”
Arsenal’s Champions League win comes at a cost to increase injury headache
If there is a sense of apprehension around Arsenal at the moment, it went up a level late in the second half of this nervy 1-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League. The sight of Riccardo Calafiori hobbling off after an awkward slip and becoming the latest addition to their lengthy injury list gives Mikel Arteta another headache ahead of facing Liverpool on Sunday. “He felt something,” Arteta said afterwards. “I don’t know the extent of it so in that sense that’s not great news.”
His side had to dig in here to claim another three points in the Champions League against a resolute Shakhtar team. There was a dip in energy after Calafiori’s injury, another after Leandro Trossard’s penalty was saved in the 75th minute. Not for the first time in this Champions League, Arsenal were indebted to David Raya, whose strong arm kept out a dipping shot from Pedrinho in the 92nd minute. It denied what would have been a famous point for the Ukrainian side.
Arsenal’s Champions League win comes at a cost to increase injury headache
Arsenal 1-0 Shakhtar Donetsk: Gabriel Martinelli’s deflected strike earned the Gunners a tight victory but injury to Riccardo Calafiori was of greater concern
Mikel Arteta reacts to Arsenal win
Here’s the Arsenal manager giving his reaction to Amazon Prime Video:
Aston Villa take unlikely position as Unai Emery allows fans to dream again
Aston Villa could be forgiven for printing out the table, framing it and nailing it to the wall. The club who conquered the continent in 1982 have rarely hinted at scaling such heights since. Yet a chant broke out in the Holte End after Jhon Duran had doubled their lead and as Real Madrid cancelled out and wiped away Borussia Dortmund’s advantage in the Bernabeu. “We are top of the league,” they chanted. They are, and the league in question is the Champions League.
Villa have had plenty of proof of the progress they have made under Unai Emery. Yet as the Spaniard approaches the second anniversary of his appointment, the standings provide some of the most startling. In danger of relegation from the Premier League when Emery arrived, the club from the Second City are first in Europe now, at the summit of a 36-team division. It may only be for 24 hours but it is a stunning sight.
Aston Villa take unlikely position as Unai Emery allows fans to dream again
Aston Villa 2-0 Bologna: Unai Emery’s men moved to the top of the Champions League after Villa Park win
Aston Villa top table
Aston Villa defeated Bolgona 2-0 at Villa Park tonight and now sit top of the Champions League table with three wins from three. Unai Emery is working magic in European competition yet again.
Arsenal meanwhile are fourth with seven points. Mikel Arteta will be pleased with that at this stage.
‘We know his quality'
Martinelli also addressed Leandro Trossard’s penalty miss saying: “He could’ve scored but we are behind him, supporting him. We know his quality and we go again. I’m sure he’s going to play well in the next game.”
Martinelli reacts to Arsenal win
Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli gave his reaction to beating Shakhtar. In his post match interview he said: “Most important thing is to win. We knew how tough they are and we came here to win the game and we did it. We wanted to score more but we won the game and that’s the most important thing.
“It was my goal! It doesn’t matter if it was mine or an own goal, the most important thing is the win and we are really happy.
“We’ve lost some players but we know our qualities and that it’s tough to play in the Champions League. We didn’t have a good result in the last game in the Premier League and we came here to win and we did just that.”
Martinelli wins player of the match
Gabriel Martinelli was given the player of the match award. Arsenal manager said he played ‘really good’ and ‘looked sharp’ after picking up a niggle with the Brazilian national team.
Martinelli was behind the only goal of the game and created a lot of chances for the Gunners.
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