If there is a feeling of apprehension around Arsenal for the moment, he moved up a level at the end of the second half of this nervy 1-0 victory against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League. The sight of Riccardo Calafiori hobbling after an embarrassing slide and becoming the latest addition to their long injury list gives Mikel Arteta another headache before facing Liverpool on Sunday. “He felt something.” Arteta said afterwards. “I don’t know the extent of it, so in that sense it’s not good news.”
His team had to dig deep here to claim three more Champions League points against a resolute Shakhtar side. There was a drop in energy after Calafiori’s injury, another after Leandro Trossard’s penalty was saved in the 75th minute. This is not the first time in this Champions League that Arsenal owes a lot to David Rayawhose strong arm prevented a diving shot from Pedrinho in the 92nd minute. He denied what would have been a famous point for the Ukrainian side.
Calafiori’s injury, however, had already added to Arsenal’s concerns. In defense alone, Arteta will also without William Saliba suspended against Liverpool while Jurrien Timber was again absent, alongside Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu. Arsenal finished the game here with Thomas Partey and Miles Lewis-Skelly at full-backs, after Ben White was substituted on a half-time warning. White, at least, wasn’t hurt. Arteta didn’t want to take any risks a fourth red card of the season.
There was another positive point. Gabriel Martinelli took control of Arsenal’s attack and directed its flow through him, almost as if he was determined to prove something after his costly miss at 0-0 in the defeat in Bournemouth on Saturday. The Brazilian was back close to his irrepressible best here and forced Arsenal’s only goal of the evening, itself an unfortunate deflection off Shakhtar goalkeeper Dymtro Riznyk, but also provided plenty more of his devastating speed and his dribbling. “He looked really sharp, really fresh,” Arteta said. “It offered another level of threat.”
Like Arsenal needed it. Once again without Bukayo SakaMartinelli’s franchise has drawn Arsenal’s models on his left side. With Arsenal’s play so often dominated by Saka and Martin Odegaard on the opposite flank, Arteta has long sought the same efficiency on his left. With a fit and healthy Martinelli restored and partnered with Calafiori, he may have found it, but another solution is likely to be needed for Liverpool’s finish this weekend in what is a must-win game after the defeat of Bournemouth.
It was another night where it was clear how much Arsenal missed Saka and Odegaard. Martinelli aside, Arteta’s side have struggled to step up a gear. Gabriel Jesus had moments but didn’t look home, sent back to the right. Raheem Sterling didn’t get the chance he wanted to establish himself permanently in this Arsenal attack, after being booked following Saliba’s first-half red card on Saturday night. Trossard, guilty of dismissing the central defender with his back pass, seems to lack confidence. He had the chance to complete what should have been a comfortable victory from the penalty spot, but his shot, sent straight down the middle, was saved by Riznyk.
It was at least a moment of celebration for the visiting fans. Shakhtar represented Ukraine as much as they did in London. With its domestic championship heavily affected by the ongoing Russian invasion, Ukrainian clubs have unimaginable obstacles to overcome to compete on the continental stage, but Shakhtar were determined to fight for their nation. The outdoor section was colored by the blue and yellow of the Ukrainian flag.
However, it was likely to be a long evening for Shakhtar in the early stages.. Their imprecision in possession when playing from the back created pressure and allowed Arsenal to dominate without looking particularly sharp. But without Saka, it was hard to escape the feeling that Arsenal were missing something: especially as Trossard took turns with his left foot in an attempt to replicate Saka’s inside delivery.
Although this led to a first chance, blazed by Calafiori from seven yards. There were long-range shots from Calafiori and Declan Rice, neither troubling, and a shot at the near post from Trossard, again harmless. The creator was Martinelli, Arsenal’s brightest spark. The breakthrough came when the Brazilian drove into the penalty area and onto his right foot, moved it an extra step and fired low towards the near post. Riznyk might have made the save if Martinelli’s shot hadn’t hit in passing. Instead, it bounced off the post and went into his back.
Arsenal stepped up their efforts in the latter stages of the half. Martinelli’s cross found Jesus at the far post and it took an excellent clearance from Matviyenko to deny Kai Havertz on the goal line. Riznyk was then forced to block a big block with his feet as Havertz set Jesus up with a smart layoff. Martinelli then picked up Arsenal’s intensity after half-time, firing in a cross which was headed in by Trossard. Once again, the instigator had been Calafiori, turning well between two Shakhtar players at half-time. Martinelli continued to torment Riznyk, harassing the goalkeeper until he was forced to clear for a throw-in.
But Arsenal lost their way, allowing Shakhtar to come back. Raya wasn’t forced to make a save until the very end, but there were flashes of Arsenal players looking nervous on the ball. Trossard, whose back pass led to Saliba’s red card against Bournemouth, almost caused Arsenal trouble again, but Eguinaldo’s shot was blocked. Calafiori was caught just outside his box, burst in by Eguinaldo, but Shakhtar found themselves offside.
Calafiori landed awkwardly, his leg slipping underneath him. He attempted to continue but became the latest addition to Arsenal’s injury list ahead of Liverpool. Arsenal had the chance to put the game to bed when Mikel Merino’s arm collided with Valerii Bondar’s hand in the box. As if to sum up Arsenal’s evening, Trossard went down the middle and the diving Riznyk stopped with his foot, making amends. Arsenal shouldn’t have needed another Raya moment after the goalkeeper’s double save at Atalanta, but it was necessary to deny Pedrinho.
