Arsenal did just enough to secure all three points from their UEFA Champions League encounter with Shakhtar Donetsk at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday evening.
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Arsenal secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, despite the match being neither aesthetically pleasing nor entirely enjoyable.
The game’s only goal came from an unfortunate own goal by Shakhtar goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk, who inadvertently redirected Gabriel Martinelli’s shot off the post into his own net after half an hour of play.
This goal encapsulated a match that was largely characterized by scrappy play and tension, as Arsenal struggled to capitalize on extended periods of possession and failed to increase their lead.
Following Riznyk’s save of a penalty from Leandro Trossard in the second half, Shakhtar pressed for an equalizer. However, a combination of ineffective final passes and strong defensive efforts from Arsenal ensured that the visitors left north London without any points.
While fans at the Emirates had recently witnessed one of Arsenal’s most impressive performances under Mikel Arteta in a 2-0 victory against Paris Saint-Germain, they would also appreciate the team’s ability to secure a win even when not performing at their best.
Although Shakhtar at home appeared to be one of Arsenal’s more favorable matchups in the group stages of the revamped Champions League, the Gunners’ unexpected 2-0 loss to Bournemouth on Saturday heightened the necessity of a win to regain momentum. Arteta remarked on the match, stating, “In the first half, we were dominant. We created four significant chances that we should have converted to secure the game.
“The second half presented a different challenge. We appeared fatigued and lacked sharpness both with and without the ball. We had two major opportunities, missed a penalty, and the emotional toll was challenging to manage, but we had to persevere.
“They are a strong team. It’s the Champions League—securing the win and maintaining a clean sheet is what matters.”
Arsenal rebounds : Stubborn Shakhtar
Arsenal commenced the match with remarkable intensity, swiftly placing Shakhtar under pressure. The two Gabriels—Martinelli and Jesus—were particularly effective in exploiting the flanks.
The home supporters reacted enthusiastically to Arsenal’s vigorous start, as the chants of “Arsenal, Arsenal” resonated throughout the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal’s early control of the game should have been rewarded with a goal; however, Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori misfired, sending his shot over the crossbar after the ball presented itself to him in the penalty area.
In an effort to uplift the team following a challenging initial five minutes, Shakhtar fans began to jump and wave their orange scarves in unison. This display of support invigorated the players.
After successfully weathering the initial onslaught from Arsenal, Shakhtar began to assert themselves and posed a threat on the counterattack.
However, a missed interception by Dmytro Kryskiv, as Calafiori distributed the ball from the back, allowed Arsenal to swiftly navigate past Shakhtar’s midfield and penetrate their defense.
Martinelli, cutting back onto his right foot, struck the post, but the ball fortuitously rebounded off Riznyk’s back, leading to an own goal as the unfortunate Shakhtar goalkeeper turned to witness the ball cross the line. Although officially recorded as an own goal by Riznyk, Martinelli rightfully garnered praise from both his teammates and the fans.
The Brazilian was instrumental in much of Arsenal’s attacking play during the first half. His dribbling, executed at an exhilarating pace, was a spectacle to behold.
Arteta remarked that Martinelli had discovered “another gear, another level” in what constituted a “great performance.”
With Arsenal now fully engaged, they maintained dominance for the remainder of the half, with only a few impressive saves from Riznyk and a crucial block from the Shakhtar defense preventing a larger deficit.
Arsenal secured seven points from nine in the UEFA Champions League group stage by narrowly defeating a determined Shakhtar Donetsk team 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium.
The match’s sole goal occurred in the 29th minute when Gabriel Martinelli skillfully maneuvered inside onto his right foot, unleashing a low shot that struck the post, ricocheted off the helpless goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk, and ultimately crossed the goal line.
Kai Havertz, aiming to score in eight consecutive matches and establish a new record at the Emirates, nearly extended Arsenal’s advantage just before halftime. However, the Shakhtar defenders managed to clear the ball just as he was poised to head it in from close range. Arsenal did enough to claim all three points in their UEFA Champions League fixture against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday evening. The unfortunate own goal was attributed to Shakhtar’s goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk in the 29th minute, and the visitors failed to generate a response against Mikel Arteta’s team.
