Arsenal face Liverpool injury nightmare after costly Shakhtar win

Arsenal defeated Shakhtar Donetsk with a score of 1-0, thanks to an own goal by Riznyk in the 29th minute.

EMIRATES STADIUM — Arsenal secured a victory and steered clear of any red card disputes in their match against Shakhtar Donetsk. However, Mikel Arteta's evening wasn't entirely smooth, as he now faces new injury issues with Liverpool set to come to the Emirates this Sunday.

Riccardo Calafiori limped off the field after needing medical attention twice. Ben White, who appeared quite tired, was also substituted at halftime. However, Arteta later explained that White was taken out of the game because he received a yellow card. "We've dealt with playing with ten players often enough lately!" Arteta quipped.

However, with Calafiori possibly joining Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka on the injury list—both of whom were missing from Tuesday's game—Arsenal could be at a disadvantage in their upcoming challenge against Arne Slot's league leaders.

"Arteta mentioned that Riccy [Calafiori] had to leave the game due to feeling some discomfort. He added that he isn't sure how serious the issue is, but it's not a positive sign."

Arsenal performed better in the Champions League without some of their injured players than they did in Saturday's surprising defeat on the south coast. They secured a victory thanks to an own goal by Dmytro Riznyk. However, Leandro Trossard missing a penalty highlighted their struggles against a team they would typically expect to defeat easily.

Shakhtar Donetsk isn't as powerful as it used to be, and it's easy to see why. After being forced out of the Donbas area in 2014 and facing a wave of player departures to eager European clubs following Russia’s unlawful invasion in 2022, this team, once a powerhouse in Ukrainian football, has lost much of its strength.

At present, they sit in fourth place in their national league and have not managed to score in the Champions League this season after playing three matches.

"Our way of life is entirely distinct from that of all the European clubs," stated the club's CEO, Sergiy Palkin, prior to the match. He certainly has a valid argument.

A large part of the money earned from player transfers and Champions League earnings is being allocated to support the war effort. The club contributed £20 million from Mykhailo Mudryk's transfer fee to assist soldiers and their families.

Given the situation, Arsenal were probably set to win, but it turned out to be more complicated than their fans anticipated. The first half was well-managed, but the second half was messy and chaotic.

It was an unusual display from a solid first team, and afterward, Arteta admitted that his squad appeared “exhausted.”

Arteta's options for making changes to the lineup were restricted, but many fans likely felt a twinge of disappointment that 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, a talented young player, didn't get the opportunity to step in for Odegaard.

Arteta made two adjustments to the starting lineup following the loss to Bournemouth, bringing in Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli to replace Mikel Merino and Raheem Sterling.

Arsenal began the match with great energy and could have scored within the first six minutes. Calafiori had impressive moment last month when he netted a spectacular long-range goal against Manchester City, but this time, he struggled to finish from just six yards, firing a half-volley way over the goal into the stands.

Shakhtar found themselves mostly defending in their own half, with the energetic Brazilian striker Equinaldo occasionally providing a bit of relief. However, after about thirty minutes, they eventually gave in to the pressure from Arsenal.

The announcer at the Arsenal stadium gave Martinelli credit for the first goal, but it wasn't really his. The winger's sharp shot hit the bottom of the post and then deflected off the goalkeeper Riznyk's back into the net. It was a lucky start that led to an understanding cheer from the home fans after they watched the replay on the big screen.

Riznyk quickly made up for his earlier mistake by stopping Jesus with a great save using his right foot after Havertz set him up perfectly. Just a little later, the two teamed up again, but a defender managed to block Jesus after he showed off some impressive skills. The temporary captain raised his arms in frustration as yet another opportunity to score went begging; he’s now gone 23 games without a goal.

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While Jesus seemed uncertain during the game, Martinelli was anything but hesitant. He made a clever attempt that forced Riznyk into a quick save right after pressuring him into a misplayed clearance. Although Martinelli has found it challenging to regain the exciting form he had in the 2022-23 season, when he scored 15 goals in the Premier League, his display on the night stood out as the highlight of an otherwise lackluster performance.

"Arteta remarked, 'He appeared incredibly sharp and looked more revitalized than anyone else on the field since he didn't play in the match against Bournemouth. You could see he had a unique edge and an extra level of energy. He performed exceptionally well, showcasing a fantastic game.'"

The last 15 minutes were more intense than necessary. Shortly after Jesus was taken off the field, Arsenal received a penalty due to an unreasonably strict handball call against Mykola Matviyenko. If Jesus had still been playing, he likely would have taken the penalty himself. Instead, it was Trossard who stepped up and sent his shot towards the left side, where Riznyk easily anticipated it.

The Belgian players expressed their gratitude to David Raya in the locker room after the Spaniard made a spectacular save to stop Pedrinho in the dying moments of the match. "We’re fortunate to have him on our team," Martinelli remarked.

While it wasn't the most convincing performance, Arsenal kept their unbeaten streak in Europe alive. We'll find out if this has any repercussions after the big match at the top of the table on Sunday.