Arsenal 1 Shakhtar 0: Lucky Gunners need bounce off keeper’s BUM to beat Ukrainians as Trossard misses penalty
TO PUT it lightly, Mikel Arteta has found Arsenal’s recent red card flurry a right pain in the backside.
So, this largely uneventful and uninspiring Champions League victory lacking any thrills, spills or early showers would have come as a slight relief for the Gunners boss.
ReutersArsenal just about got back to winning ways[/caption]
Amazon Prime VideoGabriel Martinelli’s low strike thumped the base of the post[/caption]
AFPThe ball bounced back off Shakhtar Donetsk goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk into the back of the net[/caption]
Arsenal have the breakthrough goal 💥
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) October 22, 2024
It’s unfortunate for Dmytro Riznyk as Gabriel Martinelli’s shot canons back off the post and in via the Shakhtar goalkeeper#UCLonPrime pic.twitter.com/mWezszZjgf
However, the Arsenal medical team continue to be kept busy with yet more untimely injury woe on the horizon – Riccardo Calafiori potentially the latest victim.
Gabriel Martinelli’s 29th-minute strike typified the quality of this contest, cutting inside and seeing his tame effort deflected on to the base of the post then back off Shakhtar Donetsk keeper Dmytro Riznyk’s bottom and in.
As the Emirates faithful continue to sing around here: 1-0 to the Arsenal.
It should have been more but for Leandro Trossard’s missed penalty in the 77th minute, making what should have been a comfortable night slightly awkward, and generally tedious.
Not exactly the ideal response following an away-day flop, but job done – just.
Arteta had spent the build-up to this clash defending his side’s discipline in the aftermath of William Saliba’s first-half dismissal in the 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth last weekend.
That made it three reds in six Prem games, costing them seven points in the process.
The outing at the Cherries was Arsenal’s first loss for six months.
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It was therefore imperative to avoid another bum note of a result, even if both the performance and atmosphere were both severely lacking for a European night under the lights.
That will not overly concern Arteta.
This below-par win makes it seven points from a possible nine in a new format that requires teams to play the long game to qualify.
And on Sunday with Arne Slot’s shock title chasers Liverpool in town, this place will be rocking and raving at the prospect of closing the gap up at the top of the table.
There were some positives. Martinelli looks back to his sharp and fizzing best down the left flank, involved in a third goal in his last five games in all competitions.
But Arteta still has some headaches to contend with.
Skipper Martin Odegaard and star boy Bukayo Saka are major doubts to face the Reds, alongside the suspended Saliba.
There were also some casualties from this one. Ben White was taken off at half-time for an unknown reason and Calafiori was also forced off with a jarred knee.
And then there is the issue of Gabriel Jesus.
On just his fourth start this term, this was a chance for the Brazilian to end the most unwanted of runs in front of goal.
Leandro Trossard has his penalty saved! 🙅♂️
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) October 22, 2024
Dmytro Riznyk's trailing leg denies Trossard, Shakhtar are still in this#UCLonPrime pic.twitter.com/0e9k5qHBvx
Since netting away at Nottingham Forest on January 30, Jesus had gone 22 games, 266 days and 732 minutes without scoring.
And yet again, that streak was extended, the slump continues, even against his favourite opposition – a side only Cristiano Ronaldo has scored more goals against in this competition.
And with Arteta returning to a 4-4-2 set-up after his Mikel Merino experiment failed against Bournemouth, he isn’t even trusted to play as a striker any more, instead chucked out on the wing, albeit wearing the captain’s armband.
Not that he did not have chances – good chances – but this is clearly a player inside his own head, overthinking every shot, every touch and searching desperately for confidence.
With Arsenal’s state of injuries currently, Jesus needs to snap out of that and fast and contribute as much as Martinelli, Trossard and Kai Havertz are currently.
Trossard and Havertz combined early on from a corner with Calafiori blazing over from six yards out.
Shakhtar were struggling with the early intensity in front of their 3,000 travelling fans.
In their first Euro game on English soil in nearly five years, manager Marino Pushych insisted there was no time for excuses, despite their troubled 13-hour journey over from war-torn Ukraine.
PAValeriy Bondar was penalised for the handball[/caption]
PALeandro Trossard stepped up to take the spot-kick[/caption]
ReutersBut it was saved by Riznyk’s outstretched feet[/caption]
But Arsenal too were sloppy. White and Saliba falling asleep at times to gift Eguinaldo a sniff of goal and a rare foray forward.
Wasted opportunities were coming and going until Martinelli’s huge slice of luck to calm the nerves as the hosts took the lead.
He was at it again two minutes later and Declan Rice squared for Havertz but for some good defending before being denied a close-range diving header from Shakhtar skipper Mykola Matviyenko.
Jesus missed a few sitters inside the box. Nothing he touches ripples the net right now.
There was a reshuffle at the break with White mysteriously subbed, forcing Thomas Partey into right-back and Merino on for some more game time at his new club.
Arsenal were struggling for tempo, even after Trossard flicked a header just wide, but were given the perfect antidote via a VAR-assisted decision to award a spot-kick for an unfortunate handball from Merino’s cross.
Trossard stepped up, but could only find the legs of Riznyk.
For Arteta’s sake, he needs to put this game, this performance, well and truly behind him.
RexThe Belgian had his head in his hands[/caption]
ReutersRiccardo Calafiori hobbled off injured[/caption]
GettyChelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk was in the stands to watch his old team[/caption]
