They say that big teams don’t have to play well to win, and Arsenal are more than capable of fulfilling that maxim and the last proof of this was against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League, which they beat (1-0) on a Riznyk’s own goal in the first half.
Mikel Arteta misses Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka, that is obvious and something very logical. Even without its two most disruptive players, Arsenal aren’t lacking in talent by any means, but they lack a little more scoring, with Trossard certainly the only one who showed more punch last year than everyone else. .
Even without the two stars on the pitch, the Gunners didn’t triangulate badly in their midfield. With Gabriel Jesus as the starter, the connection between the Brazilian, the Belgian and Martinelli and Havertz was consistent, but they didn’t show it on the scoreboard. As they controlled Shakhtar’s attempted counter-attacks, and with Calafiori’s first warning on a corner kick, the goal seemed to be resisting.
After half an hour, Arsenal’s persistence found its reward. Martinelli, who was outstanding, took advantage of the Italian’s unmarking to fake the pass and take a shot. It hit the woodwork but the Brazilian found luck on a rebound from goalkeeper Riznyk to finish in an own goal (29′). And the advantage could have been greater if Matvienko had not played it with a prize, taking a ball from Havertz’s head from point-blank range.
Arteta’s biggest drawback in the first half was undoubtedly definition, but in the second it had more to do with the continuity of his plays. Arsenal were unable to press to trouble Shakhtar, although it’s true that David Raya had little to do. Less, without a doubt, than Riznyk, who redeemed himself from his own goal by scoring an almost obvious goal from Havertz.
Twice bad luck for Londoners. First due to an injury to Calafiori due to a bad knee move, although it was not serious, and later due to not knowing how to take advantage of a penalty in the judgment. VAR spotted Bondar’s handball but Riznyk, using his right foot, kept out Trossard’s centered shot. It didn’t budge anymore, because the hardness of Saliba and Gabriel in the back made the difference. And not only that, Raya answered.
match lineup
22
4
33
5
2
6
9
41
19
29
11
31
26
13
8
5
22
11
21
14
10
7
Emirates Stadium
Dmytro Riznyk31
28′
33′
45′
Yukhym Konoplia26
71′
Pedro Henrique13
95′
Dmytro Kryskiv8
Valerii Bondar5
Mykola Matviienko22
67′
Oleksandr Zubkov11
63′
Artem Bondarenko21
86′
87′
Danylo Sikan14
63′
Heorhii Sudakov10
83′
Eguinaldo7
83′
Replacements
Kirill Fesiun72
Irakli Azarov16
Vinicius Tobias17
Alaa Ghraam18
Bartol Franjic4
Taras Stepanenko6
87′
Marian Shved9
45′
Marlon Gomes30
86′
71′
Pedro38
63′
Lassina Traoré2
83′
67′
Kevin37
63′
Newerton39
coach
Mikel Arteta
Marino Pusic
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
