UCL: Arsenal struggle to 1-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk
Arsenal secured a lackluster 1-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League, thanks to a fortunate own goal by Shakhtar goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk.
Gabriel Martinelli’s deflected shot off the post and Riznyk’s bottom in the 29th minute gave the Gunners their much-needed win at the Emirates.
Despite the narrow scoreline, the match was far from Arsenal’s best.
Leandro Trossard missed a penalty in the 77th minute, making an already tedious affair slightly more uncomfortable for Mikel Arteta’s side.
Injuries added to Arsenal’s woes, with Ben White and Riccardo Calafiori both forced off, while Gabriel Jesus continued his long goal drought, extending his run without a goal to 266 days.
Despite the uninspiring performance, Arsenal’s win brings them to seven points in their Champions League campaign.
Arteta will hope his squad can recover in time for their crucial Premier League clash against Liverpool, with key players like Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, and William Saliba potentially unavailable.