Job done but injuries take their toll
Arsenal edged past Shakhtar Donetsk but injuries are starting to bite
Hello,
Happy Wednesday,
Well, we got over the line against Shakhtar Donetsk, and that’s all that matters in terms of the Champions League table.
It was slightly concerning how we dipped in the second half, even if Mikel Arteta did explain that the intensity we showed in the first half simply couldn’t be sustained, and the fact that we didn’t add more than a single goal when we dominated, meant that we could never relax.
Ben White, who had returned from injury during the south coast defeat at Bournemouth after nearly a month out, was substituted during the interval.
Afterwards, Arteta revealed it was simply a precaution with the defender already on a yellow card - and with three sendings off in eight games prior to the visit of the Ukrainian champions, the Arsenal boss didn’t want to tempt fate.
Arteta said: “With Ben, it was my decision to take him out. He had a yellow card and we’ve played enough with 10 men in recent periods.
“They had a lot of players on that side, so I didn’t want to take any chances there.”
What was more concerning was another injury, this time to Riccardo Calafiori. I did think it was strange that he wasn’t replaced after going down the first time, certainly when he looked in such distress.
Arteta added: “With Riccardo, he had to come off because he felt something. I don’t know the extent of it so in that sense that’s not great news.”
Let’s hope it’s not too serious, although given how many medical experts there appears to be any time an Arsenal player gets injured, and knowing the club’s previous form on injuries, perhaps we should expect him to be out for an outlandish ten weeks, as some on social media’s medical panel have suggested.
Either way, Calafiori will in all likelihood not be fit for Sunday’s titanic clash against Liverpool.
With William Saliba suspended, and still no sign of Martin Odegaard, and worryingly Bukaya Saka, it’s such a shame we play Arnie Slot’s side with possibly four of our most influential players this season missing.
My picture from the Emirates press box of Riccardo Calafiori shortly before he was substituted.
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Good Luck Jack
All the best to a rising star in coaching circles as well as all round top bloke JackWilshere, on his move to Norwich.
Read the current print issue of the Gooner Fanzine for my exclusive interview with the Gunners icon, as he talks about his hopes for the future, his passion for coaching and much more.
And well done to the club for quickly appointing in-house, with the underrated Adam Birch
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My Morning Star newspaper match report
Arsenal 1–0 Shakhtar Donetsk: Champions League report by Layth Yousif
A first half own goal by Shakhtar Donetsk keeper Dmytro Riznyk was enough to beat the battling visitors from Ukraine.
Despite Riznyk attempting to make amends when he saved Leandro Trossard’s weak penalty with 13 minutes remaining, Mikel Arteta’s Gunners scraped over the line to pick up three vital points in their bid to qualify for the knock-out stages by making the top eight of the new style Champions League.
In a lively start, Riccardo Calafiori lifted his sixth minute effort over the bar, during a spell of intense, early Arsenal dominance, which was bookended by the Italian’s 23rd minute drive that Donetsk keeper Riznyk gathered.
The dominance eventually told six minutes later, as the Gunners went 1-0 up. The goal came after Gabi Martinelli fired a low shot onto the post, before the ball rebounded onto visitor’s keeper Riznyk, and into the net for an own goal.
Jesus could have doubled the lead moments before half time, but Riznyk was alert to block the Brazil attacker’s low effort, after Trossard dovetailed well to work the opening.
While the underperforming Jesus looked like a striker badly in need of a goal, compatriot Martinelli proved a threat to Riznyk all night, nearly robbing the 25-year-old Poltavo-born Ukraine netminder early in the second half, while also forcing a smart save shortly afterwards.
However, such dominance brought complacency in the home defence through Trossard – fresh from his badly timed ball back to William Saliba at Bournemouth that led to the defender’s expulsion – who attempted to play the ball across the backline, only for Donetsk’s Equinaldo’s to latch onto the errant ball, only to be blocked by Gabriel, as Raya claimed a looping, dolly catch.
As the clock ticked down Calafiori picked up an injury that saw the 23-year-old Italian hobble off, following two tough knocks in quick succession. With Ben White subbed at the interval for Mikel Merino, the number of candidates to replace the suspended Saliba in the heart of defence against Liverpool on Sunday appears to be shrinking by the day.
To cap a frustrating evening Trossard was replaced by Jorginho late on, following his 77th minute penalty miss.
It could have been worse but for Raya smart late save that saw the ball thud off his outstretched arm when diving full length to deny Pedrinho's strike during the six minutes of added time.
Player Ratings
Player Ratings: Arsenal 1-0 Shakhtar Donetsk
A first half own goal by Shakhtar Donetsk keeper Dmytro Riznyk was enough to beat the battling visitors from Ukraine.
In an underwhelming match, Leandro Trossard had his 77th minute penalty saved by the lively Riznyk as the Gunners scraped over the line to pick up three valuable points in their bid to qualify for the knock out stages of the Champions League.
Find out who impressed with our Champions League Player Ratings
Player Ratings:
David Raya: 8/10 - A quiet first with not much to do bar gather Equinaldo’s tame short seven minutes before the interval, while also claiming Donetsk’s Brazil U20 star’s blocked, looping shot midway through the second half. That was until his superb diving stop to deny Pedrinho. The mark of all top keepers is to keep your concentration even during sterile games, and Raya showed his burgeoning class once again to ensure Arsenal picked up the full three points
Ben White: 6.5/10 - An unsteady start after Donetsk No7 Equinaldo beat the Gunners defender for pace. Booked for a late challenge on the visitors’ dangerous 20-year-old Brazil attacker before being hooked at the break in favour of Mikel Merino
William Saliba: 7/10 - Imperious return to the Gunners backline after his red card on the south coast on Saturday, which only underlined just how much the world class French centre-back will be sorely missed when his Premier League suspension kicks-in on Sunday against Liverpool
Gabriel: 7/10 - Solid and reliable including a well-timed block from the lively Equinaldo, after Trossard’s poor ball across the defence put his backline in trouble, again
Riccardo Calafiori: 6.5/10 - Lifted an early effort over the bar when well-placed, while forcing Donetsk keeper Dmytro Riznyk into a low save in the 23rdminute. Substituted for Myles Lewis-Skelly after suffering two knocks in a matter of minutes
Thomas Partey: 7.5/10 - Battled hard
Declan Rice: 7.5/10 - Never stopped working
Jesus: 6/10 - A laboured performance from Arsenal’s captain for the evening in the continued absence of Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard. Should perhaps have doubled the lead shortly before the interval, but Riznyk was alert to block his low effort
Leandro Trossard: 5.5/10 - Always good to see an attacker use both feet proficiently in dead ball situations and the Belgian excelled in changing the angle with inswinging, and outswinging corners. Powerful low shot flew narrowly wide early in the second half. Which makes his poor penalty even more inexplicable and was subbed late on amid frustration
Kai Havertz: 6/10 - Brave when attempting a flying header to connect with Jesus’ cross, but was beaten to the ball by Matviyenko
Gabi Martinelli: 7.5/10 - Provider of balls into the box with his trickery along the left flank. The Brazil attacker’s 29th minute shot prompted Riznyk’s own goal, after the ball cannoned back onto the Donetsk keeper and into the net for 1-0. Proved a threat to Riznyk all night, nearly robbing the 25-year-old Poltavo-born Ukraine netminder early in the second half, while also forcing a smart save shortly afterwards
Substitutes:
Mikel Merino: 6/10 - Swapped for the under-par Ben White at half time
Raheem Sterling: 6.5/10 - On for Jesus midway through the second half
Myles Lewis-Skelly: 7.5/10 - Replaced Calafiori who suffered two knocks in a matter of minutes
