Arsenal secured a 1-0 victory against Shakhtar Donetsk this evening, returning to winning ways after their weekend defeat to Bournemouth.
The Gunners aimed for a quick start and nearly took an early lead as they dominated much of the opening minutes, relentlessly attacking Shakhtar in search of the breakthrough.
Riccardo Calafiori came close to finishing a fine move he initiated, as Shakhtar struggled to cope with Arsenal’s intensity.
Although the Ukrainians attempted to create chances, Arsenal’s solid defending across the pitch prevented their visitors from getting any clear opportunities.
Arsenal’s pressure eventually paid off when Dmytro Riznyk scored an own goal, with Gabriel Martinelli’s shot rebounding off the bar and hitting him in the back.
Before halftime, both Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus had opportunities to double the lead, but they were unable to find the target.
After the break, Riznyk continued to be tested, making a brilliant save from another Martinelli effort.
The Gunners pushed for a second goal and eventually earned a penalty, but Leandro Trossard failed to convert.
Losing Calafiori to what appeared to be a serious injury, coupled with the missed penalty, gave Shakhtar a boost in confidence.
The visitors began to threaten, forcing David Raya into a few crucial saves as they sought an equaliser.
This was an unconvincing performance, but a win is a win and we move on to Liverpool at the weekend.
Arteta is a risk averse. He likes to use only the tried and tested players even when they are performing poorly. We lack creativity without MO and saka and it looks like MA has no solution to it. He could have brought in Nwaneri instead of Sterling. On the weekend he could have played with 3 CB and continue with Sterling so there was a pace in the team for counter attacking.
We played like a team low on confidence as epitomised by Trossards missed penalty.
This injuries have really depleted our squad.Its getting tough by the day. I am afraid,I don’t know how we are going to cope with this.
There is no question that we are missing crucial players but that doesn’t alter the fact that from a really dominant position, they relaxed. Over confident that a goal was going to come? It took a deflection to go in and should have been the opportunity to go for the jugular afterwards.
I admire White enormously, but he was sloppy at one point in the first half which seemed to mirror what followed. I thought Trossard’s penalty was weak and by then I couldn’t see Arsenal rising above mediocrity.
The finishing didn’t exist and I’m mega disappointed by how a poor- but determined – Shakhtar team could keep themselves in the tie.
Califiori is injured to add to a growing list of crocked players. 🤬
Hopefully it’s not too serious for Calafiori, SueP. We could have Saka back for Liverpool too? Fingers crossed but we need to turn up and be at our best for sure.
There’s no doubt it wasn’t a great performance. However, people need to have some perspective. We won the game. Most of those players were on the pitch just a few days ago having had to play a man down for most of the game.
The loss of key players should not be downplayed. Those players are not easily replaced.
I appreciate the points you have made David but I was very surprised by slow backwards and sideways passing that slipped in during the first half. SD were awful and Arsenal should have dispatched them clinically rather than by a lucky deflection. Going down to 10 men would have made an impact on fitness but that’s not a good enough excuse against a weak team who were allowed to get back into the game imo. As others have mentioned, we are missing crucial players and whilst the squad has been improved by the summer signings, there is insufficient class throughout to match the quality of City and breaking into a new team can take time.
Not so sure that the squad has improved especially the balance of attack /attacking midfield areas as seen by recent performances. We seem to have an excess of defensive minded midfielders . For example we have Jorginho sitting on the bench for last two games. Arteta’s first team selection is fantastic but his rotation and trust in his squad is not top level yet and that is one reason we may not get the trophies.
Well, I think of those who have been bought and those who departed and I contend that our squad is stronger. What has been disastrous is the high value players level of injuries in amongst the newer players bedding in. The loss of Odegaard and latterly Saka has shown how important they are.
There is more depth in MF and defence. We have some limitations in attack and creativity.
Our football this season has been not a joy to watch. The speed and lack of real intent, is getting boring to watch and the team is becoming stale. Something has to change and quick. Otherwise we will disappear up our Arsenal.
Another disjointed and Nervy display from our team and a yet some has allegiance we could win the title with Arteta. Forget about that. And sunday fills me with a sense of trepidation. Tired of this men.
Very poor overall from Arsenal. Against any half decent opponent (and Shakhtar were 27th in the CL table, I think) and Arsenal would have been lucky to get the draw playing like that – particularly in the second half.
Far too profligate in front of goal (again) – it’s nights like this that Arsenal really misses a “killer” striker, but we are where we are with that.
I thought Jesus was better than he has been in the EPL, but still no goals since January. How long will Arteta persevere with him I wonder? Sterling was disappointing – he doesn’t look fit to me. White picked up another unnecessary yellow card (following his one for time wasting against Bournemouth). Sooner or later, he’ll be caught out with a second yellow in a game.
We can be sure of one thing at least – Liverpool will present an altogether different class of opponent on Sunday and Arsenal’s performance tonight certainly won’t have them too worried.
Very poor performance by the players and the coach seem lost on what to do.
Arsenal player played like tired legs and were sloppy in possession at times. The fans cried out for Saka’s delputy when the transfer windows.was opend but Arteta and Edu wouldn’t listen. It’s obvious neither of Jesus or Sterling could perform in Saka’s role.
Now I am afraid how we shall cope against deadly Liverpool forwards without Saliba we couldn’t even keep the ball well against Sharktar today. Arsenal only attack outlet today was Matinelli. Trossard was poor in the match and Arteta still kept Nwaneri on the bench fingers crossed🤫
Is this the same Sylva that was bigging up Jesus before the game.
You can’t make this stuff up.
No intensity whatsoever, everybody seems afraid of pressing. Boring to watch us play now just like a couple or so seasons back. Something has to really change and fast. Arteta must really learn to trust his squad if we are to navigate this injuries.
I don’t think, with again, the exception of Partey (who shone) any player was worth more than a 6 out of 10. They were all guilty of sloppiness and poor quality.
Reggie indeed Partey is back to his best and I hope he stays fit. Martinelli looked good in the first half and did nothing there after. The worst of them all was Trossard ! Misplaced so may passes and what an awful penalty!
They all look to me like they were playing with half a heart.
I think the squad had the Liverpool game at the back of their minds with regards to intensity levels and just sat off after the goal, wasn’t great to watch but it’s certainly reasonable to do so against a low quality opponent and save our energy for Liverpool.
Didn’t make the game tonight, but watched it on TV.
Martin was very impressive and deserved MOTM, with Raya just behind him.
I was also impressed with Gabriel on the wing and he seemed hungry to impress.
It was disappointing not to see MA have the opportunity to introduce our younger players, as the game never felt safe in my opinion.
It seems that Saka won’t be able to play this weekend and now we’re sweating on Califiori!!
Cannot understand why our second half performance was so uninspiring, but as Lee Dixon has just said, a win is a win – bring on Liverpool!!
2 plusses
Partey back to his best..
Martinelli close to his best.
He has Alexander Arnold where we wants him.
He must start
Well neath gunner, ziny could play left back on Sunday, salah has him where he wants.
Poor poor tactics again by the novice. Every 2nd half this season, we have struggled simply because the micro manager tweaks too much. Panicked against Brighton and Bournemouth.
Struggling against Shaktar? With all due redpect to the ukranian team…we should not have been clinging onto a victory . Which manager decides to switch your midfielder who has been controlling the middle of the park to a right back and who then struggled? Oh…you say, we dont have bench players…right, which pair of tweedle dum and tweedle dee stuffed up the transfer season? And why bother to have young bench players if you are not going to use them?
The novice AGAIN switched the team at half time and you could see, they struggled as a team…trossard was poor AGAIN…less said about jesus the better, has to go….calafiori looks more and more like kola…..rice in his new possie looks out of place. Partey IS NOT a right back. Sterling and Jorginho subs….really??
And another thing…we are playing at the emirates and you have the wrong studs on?? And what are they training at training? Red cards , players injury, poor set pieces. And some here think he will win us an epl title. Last season was his Wengers Leicester season. Should have… but couldnt. Won an FA cup that prolonged the misery. Sadly, almost identical again
We were playing without intensity and commitment. I suspect players were thinking more about Liverpool than focusing on the game at hand. Dangerous preparation for such an important game.
2 Small details showing that Arteta is loosing control on the team:
1) Why Trossard took the penalty when Havertz had proved to be the best in that role.
2) Why Levis-Skelly took 3 minutes to get into the field because he had to remove his earrings.
For next game our only hope is that Timber can be recovered and play as a proper substitute for Saliba.
Who is going to play to stop Salah as Calafiori is injured?
Definitely our squad is short of quality.
Calafiori was never going to be able to stop Salah, man lacks pace seriously.
The one plus for me is that we’ve won every game this season with eleven vs. eleven I hope that run continues for a good spell
It’s truly dangerous to have a stubborn coach. Give some of these young players a start and see wonders they will perform. In such situations as ours, you need hungry players
There’s a level of creativity we lose without Odegaard
Then there’s another level we lose without Saka
Our play-pattern revolves solely around going to the right-wing (when Saka is there)
So it a huge bunch of our identity that goes with him out
Merino won’t last long if he doesn’t become hungry and confident and willing to take on responsibilities like Calafiori and Timber
We could as well start considering Zinks for midfield if he Merino just wants to be making-up the numbers
White been out for just couple of weeks & we can see how much sharpness he’s lost – one Bournemouth winger was beating him steadily, same in Shakhtar
My point is: all players lose sharpness if they don’t play for a while
They’ll need playtime and our patience to get back in form as long as we can see them trying and being hungry for it (Jesus is who i have in mind)
We were complaining of Martinelli at a point, now he’s looking to be amongst our better performers, last match & this
That performance was just as bad as Bournemouth and if we play like this versus Liverpool then they will put 5 past us.
A win is a win although admittedly it was quite unconvincing. Disappointed with Jesus, he still has to hit top form for Arsenal. Trossard shouldnt have taken the penalty and left it to Havertz. White was taken off as a precautionary measure since he was already on a yellow. Nwaneri should have been brought on instead of Merino in the second half as we needed creativity in the middle of the park. The injury to Calafiori is unfortunate and hopefully he recovers soon. Good to see Martinelli back in form, we will need all our players in form against Liverpool and hopefully we beat them.
Just surprised the wheels are coming off this early.
No excuses, it’s the same thing for the past three seasons.
Arteta is one dimensional, and that doesn’t win a team the league or a European title.
Sad we’re wasting Nwaneri’s potential.
Despite Arsenal’s poor showing yesterday, congratulations to our old boy, Unai Emery as Villa had a good win over Bologna.
The performance of the night was Real Madrid’s though – two goals down at home to Dortmund after only 30 minutes or so but powered back to win 5:2 with a Vinicius hat-trick. Unfortunately, the kind of performance Arsenal can only dream of currently.
@Bertie
Well put. Big Ups to Emery and Villa. Top of the pile…👏🏾
The game highlighted to me the lack of real pace in our side of giants most of whom are natural centre backs.Our full backs and Rice fall into that category and that trio were bang average at best.Apart from Partey who was head and shoulders above anyone else on the park, particularly in the first half and the hard working Havertz, I was not impressed with our performance against a young side with a number of very speedy players who had us holding on towards the end of the match.We can only hope Timber and Saka are fit for the Liverpool match.
We have always been an accident waiting to happen – with Arteta always playing only about 13 players
– Rice is wearing out gradually
– Kai was never injured throughout last even with the abundant of amount of games he played
But we’ve started to hear: “Kai had a knock & couldn’t join the Germany squad”
It’s gradually coming for Kai
– We can turn a blind eye to it but Magahaleas & Saliba will soon break down too
I don’t rate Kiwior that much but a player can’t sit that long and be expected to perform instantly
For the amount of time he’s sat he’ll need close to 15 consistent games to see his actual form (that’s if he’s got it in him)
We watched Partey struggle for 2/3/4 matches right ?
We matched Martinelli struggle for like 4/5/6 matches right
We are watching White now & seeing his not yet at his best
Jesus is still struggling
Every of these guys left active action fir just few weeks & needed time to get back in stride
Now let’s talk about someone who is almost never in action
Practically on the bench for more than a year
5 missing for Liverpool game?😱
Saka?
Ødegaard
Timber
Saliba
Calafiori?
Fellow Arsenal fans I feel your pain.
But the one difference between me and a lot of you is, I’ve already excepted that we won’t be winning or even challenging for the Premier League or Champions League. (We maybe have a chance in the League Cup or the FA Cup, depending if Arteta takes them seriously, which I have my doubts).
The truth of the matter is, yes we have some injury’s to some key players presently, but in the summer should have been the time when Edu and Arteta should have had better back up players in place.
Don’t tell me that there aren’t better quality players out there, than Jesus, Sterling, Kiwior, and the like.
And like it or not, although Havertz has been better than I had anticipated, I’m sorry but were not going to win the league with him as our number 9. Again don’t tell me that there’s no better number 9’s out there.
So, my fellow Arsenal fans, save yourself the disappointment at the end of the season now, and just except that Arsenal will have there good patches in the season, but unfortunately when push comes to shove they will falter when it matters most.
That’s just how Arsenal are under Arteta. (The Arteta loveys won’t like me saying that).
Just except it, it’s the hope that kills you.
Now that Saliba is injured can we slot Rice into that defence line. Then midfield of Nwaneri, Partey, Merino.