Arsenal secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk at the Emirates Stadium in the Champions League, thanks to an own goal from goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk. The result came with some concern for the Gunners, as Riccardo Calafiori suffered a potential knee injury, casting doubt over his availability for Sunday’s crucial Premier League clash against Liverpool.
Despite missing key players like Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, Arsenal took the lead when Gabriel Martinelli’s effort struck the post and deflected in off Shakhtar’s Riznyk. However, the Gunners struggled to find their rhythm, lacking the usual fluency in attack without their injured stars. Leandro Trossard had the chance to double the lead from the penalty spot after a VAR review penalized Mykola Matviyenko for handball, but his weak effort was saved by Riznyk.
In a nervy conclusion, Arsenal had to rely on goalkeeper David Raya to preserve the win, with the Spaniard producing a crucial one-handed save to deny Shakhtar substitute Pedrinho from scoring a stunning long-range equalizer in stoppage time. The victory moves Arsenal to seven points from their first three Champions League matches, leaving them well-positioned among the top teams in the league phase.
However, Calafiori’s injury, compounded by the ongoing absences of Jurrien Timber and Takehiro Tomiyasu, poses a serious defensive concern for Mikel Arteta. With William Saliba also suspended for the Liverpool game, Arsenal could be facing a defensive crisis heading into Sunday’s showdown at Anfield.
