Arsenal’s Champions League win comes at a cost to increase injury headache
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There seems to be growing concern surrounding Arsenal right now, especially after their tense 1-0 victory against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League. The situation worsened in the second half when Riccardo Calafiori limped off the field following an unfortunate slip, adding to the team's already lengthy list of injuries. This development poses another challenge for Mikel Arteta as they prepare to take on Liverpool this Sunday. "He felt something," Arteta mentioned afterwards. "I'm not sure how serious it is, so that's not encouraging news."
His team had to put in some hard work to secure another three points in the Champions League against a tough Shakhtar side. They experienced a lull in energy after Calafiori got hurt, and another setback came when Leandro Trossard's penalty was saved in the 75th minute. Once again in this Champions League, Arsenal relied on David Raya, who made a crucial save against a challenging shot from Pedrinho in the 92nd minute. This save prevented what could have been a significant draw for the Ukrainian team.
Calafiori's injury has compounded Arsenal's worries. In the defense, Arteta will be missing the suspended William Saliba for the match against Liverpool, and Jurrien Timber will also be out, along with Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu. By the end of the match, Arsenal had Thomas Partey and Miles Lewis-Skelly playing as their full-backs after Ben White had to come off due to receiving a yellow card at halftime. Thankfully, White wasn't hurt; Arteta was keen to avoid adding a fourth red card to the team's record this season.
There was another bright spot. Gabriel Martinelli took charge of Arsenal's offensive play, guiding its momentum, almost as if he was eager to make a statement after his pivotal miss when the score was still 0-0 in the loss to Bournemouth the previous Saturday. The Brazilian returned to form, showcasing his impressive speed and dribbling skills. He also played a key role in Arsenal's only goal of the night, which unfortunately came from a deflection off Shakhtar's goalkeeper, Dymtro Riznyk. "He looked highly alert and rejuvenated," Arteta commented. "He brought an added level of danger to the game."
Arsenal really needed this. With Bukayo Saka sidelined again, Martinelli's aggressive play on the left side helped Arsenal's attacking flow. Usually, Saka and Martin Odegaard on the right side take center stage in Arsenal's strategy, and Arteta has been looking for similar impact on the left. With a healthy and motivated Martinelli back in action alongside Calafiori, Arteta might have discovered that option. However, with Liverpool coming up this weekend in a crucial match after the loss to Bournemouth, they'll likely need another solution.
It was another night that highlighted Arsenal's need for Saka and Odegaard. Aside from Martinelli, Arteta's squad struggled to find their rhythm. Gabriel Jesus had a few standout moments, but he didn’t seem comfortable being pushed out to the right. Raheem Sterling didn’t get the chance he was hoping for to find his place in the Arsenal attack, especially after receiving a booking following Saliba's red card in the first half of Saturday's match. Trossard, who was partly responsible for the center-back's dismissal with his back pass, seems to be lacking confidence. He had a chance to secure what should have been an easy win from the penalty spot, but his shot, which went straight down the center, was saved by Riznyk.
At least the visiting fans had a chance to cheer. Shakhtar was not just playing for themselves; they were also symbolizing Ukraine in London. The ongoing Russian invasion has taken a toll on their domestic league, presenting Ukrainian teams with immense challenges as they strive to compete internationally. Despite these obstacles, Shakhtar was resolute in their mission to represent their country. The away section was a vibrant display of blue and yellow, reflecting the colors of the Ukrainian flag.
It seemed like it might turn into a long night for Shakhtar in the early moments of the match. Their struggles with ball control while trying to advance from the back allowed Arsenal to take control, even though Arsenal didn't appear to be at their best. However, without Saka, there was a feeling that something was lacking from Arsenal's play. This was particularly noticeable as Trossard tried to mimic Saka's trademark inswinging corners using his left foot.
Although this led to an early opportunity, Calafiori shot over from seven yards out. Both Calafiori and Declan Rice attempted long-range shots, but neither posed a threat, and Trossard's flick at the near post also went harmlessly wide. The standout performer was Martinelli, bursting with energy for Arsenal. The breakthrough came when the Brazilian dribbled into the penalty area, shifted the ball onto his right foot, took another step, and struck low towards the near post. Riznyk might have saved it if Martinelli's shot hadn't deflected on its way. Instead, it hit the post and went in off his back.
Arsenal increased their pressure towards the end of the half. A cross from Martinelli found Jesus at the far post, but Matviyenko made a fantastic clearance to stop Kai Havertz from scoring on the line. Riznyk then had to make a crucial save with his feet as Havertz set up Jesus with a clever pass. After halftime, Martinelli kept up Arsenal’s high energy, sending in a cross that Trossard headed wide. Once again, it was Calafiori who sparked the attack, skillfully maneuvering around two Shakhtar players at midfield. Martinelli continued to give Riznyk a hard time, chasing the goalkeeper until he was pressured into just clearing the ball out for a throw-in.
However, Arsenal struggled to maintain their momentum, giving Shakhtar the chance to come back into the match. Raya didn't have to make a single save until the final moments, but there were moments when Arsenal players appeared anxious with the ball at their feet. Trossard, who had previously set up Saliba's red card with a poor back-pass against Bournemouth, nearly put Arsenal in jeopardy once more, but Eguinaldo’s shot was intercepted. Calafiori was tackled just outside his penalty area by Eguinaldo, yet Shakhtar ended up offside.
Calafiori fell awkwardly, his leg slipping out from under him. He tried to keep playing but became the latest victim in Arsenal's growing injury list as they faced off against Liverpool. The team had a chance to secure a win when Mikel Merino's arm hit Valerii Bondar's hand in the penalty area. To illustrate Arsenal’s frustrating evening, Trossard aimed for the middle, but Riznyk, who had dived, blocked it with his feet, making a crucial save. Arsenal really shouldn’t have needed another intervention from Raya, especially after his impressive double-save against Atalanta, but he was called into action again to stop Pedrinho.
