Arsenal returned to winning ways on Tuesday October 22 with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk at the Emirates Stadium.
An own goal proved to be the difference between the two sides, helping Arsenal bounce back from their recent 2-0 Premier League loss to Bournemouth.
This result extends Shakhtar’s poor run of form, which has left them languishing in fourth place in the Ukrainian league. They are still seeking their first win in the European tournament’s new league phase.
Lineups
Arsenal were without Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, and Takehiro Tomiyasu. Gabriel Martinelli made the squad, while Gabriel Jesus was Arsenal’s point man as Kai Havertz moved into a more profound role.
How the Match Unfolded
The home side started strongly, controlling possession for lengthy spells and stretching Shakhtar’s five-person defense. Riccardo Calafiori had the game’s first shot, firing over the bar after a corner from Leandro Trossard reached him.
Despite their dominance, Arsenal lacked the cutting edge in the final third. Declan Rice, Calafiori, and Gabriel Jesus all had efforts on goal but couldn’t find the net. However, Arsenal took the lead when Gabriel Martinelli’s shot was deflected into the net by Shakhtar goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk, who failed to handle the ball cleanly.
Kai Havertz almost made it two, latching onto a nod-down, but Mykola Matvienko cleared the danger. Gabriel Jesus also saw an effort saved by Riznyk, remaining eager to add to Arsenal’s tally.
A five-star display in N5 ✊
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 22, 2024
⏪ The last time we hosted Shakhtar Donetsk… pic.twitter.com/Q3ktELiW8O
The second half saw Shakhtar grow into the game, with Arsenal’s one-goal lead looking precarious, especially after 18-year-old Myles Lewis Skelly replaced Calafiori. Arsenal had a clear chance to seal the game after a handball in Shakhtar’s penalty box, but Riznyk saved Trossard’s effort from the spot, keeping the visitors in the game.
David Raya came to Arsenal’s rescue late, pulling off a tremendous save to deny Pedrinho, who had come on as a substitute.
The match ended 1-0 in favor of Arsenal, who dominated with 22 shots and created eight chances. However, they incurred another injury blow, and Calafiori was in pain as he walked off.
What’s Next
Arsenal will play Liverpool in the Premier League this weekend, while Shakhtar and Dynamo Kyiv will play in the Ukrainian first-division league.
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