Arsenal’s European hopes were never going to live or die by this result but they made heavy weather of three points that, nonetheless, move them a giant step towards prolonging their campaign beyond January. They had enough chances to put Shakhtar Donetsk away and then braced themselves for an awkward finale when Dmytro Riznyk saved Leandro Trossard’s 79th minute penalty.
It was ultimately Riznyk whose first-half own goal, of which he knew little, settled matters and Shakhtar remained admirably competitive throughout. Mikel Arteta will now sweat on the fitness of Riccardo Calafiori, who left the field in obvious discomfort 20 minutes from the end.
As this new, distended Champions League format enters its meandering middle phase it was tempting to wonder exactly what was at stake for Arsenal. Arteta had barely been asked about the game itself in his pre-match press conference; they have plenty of time left to sail safely from the 36-team group. But he had been grilled on the ramifications of Saturday’s controversial defeat to Bournemouth and perhaps that is where the motivation lay: to reset a little before the altogether more consequential visit of Liverpool this Sunday.
Shakhtar’s visit at least presented a story of real-world significance. Their consistency of performance at this level is a marvel, the way they have simultaneously assumed the role of international ambassador for their country since its horrifying invasion by Russia an inspiration. Any kind of result here would constitute a triumph and they were cheered by 3,000 supporters in an away end peppered with Ukrainian flags.
There was always the danger for Shakhtar that, even with Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka yet to return, Arsenal might get the job done quickly if they emerged at full tempo. The fast start came as expected and, soon after Gabriel Jesus had centred just beyond Trossard, a corner from the Belgian dropped to Calafiori. The goal was at his mercy but, eight yards out, he spooned over and the early storm settled down.
The left winger Eguinaldo offered a brief glimpse of what might happen if Arsenal slackened, picking Ben White’s pocket and making for the penalty area but seeing his opponent recover to prevent genuine danger.
In the 16th minute he did get a shot away following a smart incursion by Pedro Henrique, the effort ricocheting behind off Gabriel Magalhães. Arsenal were being kept honest, although Trossard sliced wide at the other end after a clever setup from Kai Havertz and then flicked a Martinelli cross off target.
Arsenal were hardly operating at full tilt by now and, as the half-hour neared, Shakhtar could feel content that proceedings were drifting. It only took the slightest of gear changes to shift the dial.
Declan Rice fed Martinelli on the left and, via a characteristic jink inside the right-back Yukhym Konoplia, his drilled shot struck the base of the near post. It rebounded straight off the unfortunate Riznyk and squirmed in, breathing some life into a previously semi-engaged home crowd.
A second goal would surely remove any sting from the remainder, Havertz sniffing for it but seeing Riznyk clear. It did not come before the interval because of a heroic intervention by Mykola Matviyenko when Havertz looked certain to convert and, soon before the whistle, a smart Riznyk save from Jesus.
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Arteta withdrew White, who had been booked and looked short of his best, at half-time. On came Mikel Merino, with Thomas Partey moving to right-back; it did little to alter the flow of traffic, Trossard glancing a Martinelli delivery past the far post.
Riznyk, hardly at fault for the opener, contrived a more self-inflicted problem with ball at feet in the 53rd minute but managed to fend Martinelli off, shortly afterwards looking more secure when beating away an effort from the same player.
Shakhtar, no mugs when given the chance to construct, were handed their best opening so far by a sloppy pass from Trossard that demanded a potentially goal-saving block by Gabriel from Eguinaldo. They were still in the game and began to probe higher up the pitch. Even without battering at the door they were ensuring Arsenal, for whom mistakes were creeping in, could not look to the latter stages feeling completely at ease.
There was very real concern when Calafiori, having seemingly sustained a knee injury, could not continue and was replaced by Myles Lewis-Skelly. Moments later Arsenal had the chance to dampen any uncertainties on the night, Valeriy Bondar adjudged following a VAR review to have turned Merino’s cross away with an outstretched arm.
Trossard was charged with making sure but Riznyk achieved a deserved measure of redemption by repelling a poor spot-kick, aimed down the middle, with a trailing leg. Shakhtar, visibly alive with possibility now, came closest in added time when David Raya saved at full stretch from Pedrinho. They could be proud but, for Arsenal, this was another league phase encounter to tick off.
