Arsenal 1 – 0 FC Shakhtar Donetsk – Match Report

A primary-half personal purpose from visiting goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk was sufficient to offer us a slim 1-0 residence win, and keep our unbeaten begin to the league section within the Champions League.

Martinelli created the one purpose, it was his low shot that cannoned again off the publish and in off the goalkeeper.

Riznyk was concerned once more within the second-half, saving a penalty from Leandro Trossard and we wanted a full-stretch, flying save from David Raya in injury-time to safe the win.

Quick first 5

Gabriel Jesus was considered one of two gamers – together with Martinelli – introduced again into the facet after our defeat at Bournemouth, and our captain for the evening carved out our first probability. Beginning on the precise wing, Jesus dropped his shoulder to beat Yukhym Konoplia, despatched a harmful low cross into the six-yard nevertheless it was intercepted forward of the lurking Kai Havertz.

We gained three corners within the opening 5 minutes, and the third of them actually ought to have resulted in a purpose. Trossard’s inswinger was solely half cleared, to Riccardo Calafiori eight yards out, however he spooned his left-footed shot over the bar.

After a vibrant begin although the sport fell a bit flat. Shakhtar started to create probabilities of their very own – pacey winger Eguinaldo had a shot blocked after escaping on the left flank to serve warning of the guests’ capabilities.

A lot of the play remained of their half although and Trossard had two half-chances in fast succession halfway by way of the half. First Havertz teed him up inside the world, however the Belgian’s physique form was all improper and he skewed his shot astray. Then Martinelli tiptoed in direction of the byline, discovered Trossard who needed to improvise with a first-time shot that went huge.

Gabi’s slice of luck

On the half hour we took the lead, and though Martinelli was the instigator, it’ll go down as an personal purpose. Declan Rice handed to Martinelli within the field, who was fronted up by a few Shakhtar defenders. The Brazilian shifted the ball onto his proper foot, acquired his shot away that hit the bottom of the publish, rebounded off the grounded Riznyk’s again, and into the web.

It was unlucky for the Shakhtar goalkeeper, however Martinelli deserved the purpose for his composure within the space.

We twice got here near including to our benefit earlier than the break. Havertz bravely threw himself at a Jesus knock down two or three yards from purpose, however sensible defending from Mykola Matviyenko hooked the ball away from the German with the purpose at his mercy.

Then fast passing from Trossard, to Havertz and eventually to Jesus inside the world offered the latter with a sight of purpose, however his low shot certain for the nook was saved by the outstretched leg of the goalkeeper.

Second-half modifications

The primary motion of the second half was a header glanced simply huge by Trossard and a low cross went during to Martinelli who drew a save from the keeper as we went in the hunt for the second.

Mikel Merino had been launched on the break rather than Ben White, and Riccardo Calafiori was additionally taken off holding his knee with 20 minutes remaining, changed by Myles Lewis-Skelly. Raheem Sterling was one other of these introduced on.

Trossard pays the penalty

Within the ultimate 20 minutes we have been awarded a penalty after a VAR assessment, for a handball in opposition to Valeriy Bondar, who used his arm to dam Merino’s cross from the left.

Trossard was the person who stepped as much as take the spot kick, however his effort was straight down the center and stored out by Riznyk’s toes as he dived to his left.

It was the primary penalty we’ve missed at residence since December 2021, and the primary we haven’t transformed anyplace after scoring our final 11.

It may have been very pricey. In injury-time Pedrinho fired goalwards from exterior the world, forcing Raya right into a flying save.

However we had carried out sufficient to safe the win, making it seven factors from a attainable 9 to begin the new-look League section, placing us in fourth place, earlier than Wednesday’s spherical of matches.

STATS AND FACTS

• This was our first 1-0 victory in a UEFA Champions League group stage match in 29 such matches since a win in opposition to Borussia Dortmund in November 2013, whereas we final gained 1-0 because of an personal purpose in a European match in opposition to PSV in September 2004.

   

• We’ve got stored three consecutive clear sheets within the UEFA Champions League for the primary time since a run of 4 beneath Arsene Wenger in November 2007.

   

• We’ve got missed 4 of our final eight penalties within the UEFA Champions League, having scored 11 of our earlier 12 from the spot beforehand.

   

• Shakhtar Donetsk’s Dmytro Riznyk grew to become the third participant to each rating an personal purpose and save a penalty in a UEFA Champions League match, the primary since Benfica’s Mile Svilar in October 2017 in opposition to Manchester United.

What’s subsequent

We’re again at residence on Sunday within the Premier League, once we tackle Liverpool. Our subsequent European fixture is away to Inter Milan on Matchday 4 – on Wednesday, November 6. That may make the midway level of our Champions League, league section, which concludes on Matchday 8 away to Girona on January 29.