Arsenal vs Shakhtar Donetsk - LIVE!

Arsenal maintained their unbeaten start in the Champions League but were far from convincing in a 1-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk. A first-half own goal from goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk, after Gabriel Martinelli’s strike had hit the post, should have sent the Gunners on their way to a comfortable night, and an emphatic response to the weekend defeat to Bournemouth.

But Gabriel Jesus missed a big chance to double the lead before the break and Arsenal then failed to impress in the second-half, failing to finish off the match and allowing Shakhtar to grow in confidence, even if David Raya was rarely tested. Leandro Trossard’s poor penalty was saved with just over ten minutes remaining, ensuring Arsenal could not relax until the final whistle. Pedrinho went close in stoppage-time, forcing Raya into a good save with a powerful strike from distance.

Mikel Arteta’s side saw it out, though, to make it seven points from their opening three fixtures in Europe this season, as they returned to winning ways ahead of Liverpool’s visit this weekend.

Arsenal vs Shakhtar Donetsk latest news

• MISSED! Trossard penalty saved

• GOAL! Riznyk own goal gives Arsenal lead

FT: Arsenal 1-0 Shakhtar

21:54 , Matt Verri

And that’s full-time.

Arsenal get the job done, but that was far from convincing, particularly in the second-half.

It’s still seven points from nine in Europe, and a strong start to the Champions League campaign.

Arsenal 1-0 Shakhtar

21:53 , Matt Verri

90+6 mins: Well that should be that.

Henrique FLIES in on Havertz, yellow card and a free-kick for Arsenal in the corner.

Arsenal 1-0 Shakhtar

21:51 , Matt Verri

90+4 mins: Massive chance for Gomes, dinked ball picks him out perfectly.

Free header, six yards out but it bounces off his shoulder and loops up. Raya does well to claim under pressure.

Arsenal struggling to get out.

Arsenal 1-0 Shakhtar

21:49 , Matt Verri

90+3 mins: Pedrinho allowed to get the shot away from distance, Raya forced into a smart save. First time he’s been required tonight.

This is going to be an incredibly painful blow for Arsenal if they don’t see this out.

Arsenal 1-0 Shakhtar

21:47 , Matt Verri

90+1 mins: Six minutes added on.

Arsenal still not there...

Arsenal 1-0 Shakhtar

21:46 , Matt Verri

89 mins: Corner to the back post, Martinelli has a run at it but can’t win the header.

Martinelli then whips in a brilliant ball, Rice unable to bring it down in the box.

Arsenal 1-0 Shakhtar

21:44 , Matt Verri

87 mins: Arteta just wants to see this out.

Trossard off, Jorginho on for the final few minutes.

Arsenal 1-0 Shakhtar

21:41 , Matt Verri

84 mins: Flailing arm from Martinelli on Konoplya, Arsenal winger booked for that. Very, very harsh.

Arsenal fans getting agitated...

Arsenal 1-0 Shakhtar

21:40 , Matt Verri

83 mins: Havertz wrestled off the ball on the halfway line, that’s an obvious free-kick.

Says a lot that Arsenal are happy to win a free-kick on halfway and slow things down.

Here is that penalty miss...

21:38 , Matt Verri

Not the best, to put it mildly.

Arsenal 1-0 Shakhtar

21:35 , Matt Verri

79 mins: Arsenal have managed to let this turn into a fairly nervy conclusion.

Match should have been put to bed aes ago, but instead Shakhtar still very much believe.

A couple of shots from the edge of the box, desperate Arsenal defending to block.

SAVED!

21:33 , Matt Verri

Trossard steps up to the spot.

And it’s saved! Goes down the middle, saved by the boot.

PENALTY ARSENAL!

21:32 , Matt Verri

Cross came in, Bondar’s arm was just about outstretched and it bounced off him as Trossard challenged.

Referee points to the spot!

Arsenal 1-0 Shakhtar

21:31 , Matt Verri

75 mins: Arsenal corner... but first a VAR check for handball. Nobody appealed for it.

Would be very harsh, but the referee is over to look at the screen. Trouble for Shakhtar.

Simon Collings at the Emirates

21:29 , Matt Verri

Calafiori going off is a nightmare for Arsenal.

If he is out for Sunday, and Timber isn't back, who is going to go up against Mohamed Salah?

Arsenal 1-0 Shakhtar

21:28 , Matt Verri

72 mins: Calafiori came off, but Lewis-Skelly had to wait to come on. Fourth official not happy with an earring the teenager is wearing.

Arteta looked a few seconds away from ripping Lewis-Skelly’s ear off...

Arsenal 1-0 Shakhtar

21:27 , Matt Verri

70 mins: Saying that, Calafiori has gone down again.

That’s his night over, Lewis-Skelly on for the final 20 minutes.

Arsenal 1-0 Shakhtar

21:24 , Matt Verri

67 mins: Calafiori has gone down after that challenge, chance for Arteta to call his players over for some instructions.

Italian did land awkwardly and maybe jarred something - last thing Arsenal need is another problem at full-back.

There is an Arsenal change but it’s not Calafiori coming off. Jesus replaced by Sterling.

Arsenal 1-0 Shakhtar

21:22 , Matt Verri

66 mins: Calafiori loses it on the edge of the Arsenal box, the whistle doesn’t come either.

Shakhtar don’t make the most of it, Merino getting back to clear the danger and he does win a cheap free-kick.

Arsenal need to liven up.

Dan Kilpatrick at the Emirates

21:20 , Matt Verri

Arsenal are surprisingly open at the back and living dangerously at times.

The next goal in this game feels big and at the moment both teams are pushing for it.

Arsenal 1-0 Shakhtar

21:19 , Matt Verri

63 mins: So good from Martinelli, flies back to help out his defence, with Calafiori out of position.

Closes down Zubkov and blocks the cross... but it’s a corner for Shakhtar.

Zubkov takes it, whipped in with pace at the near post and headed away.

Arsenal 1-0 Shakhtar

21:16 , Matt Verri

60 mins: Eguinaldo can lead another break, takes too long on the ball though and Arsenal can get bodies back.

Match is getting a bit stretched, not sure that’s suiting Arsenal. It’s giving the visitors a chance.

Arsenal 1-0 Shakhtar

21:14 , Matt Verri

57 mins: Just a bit sloppy from Arsenal all of a sudden.

Poor pass on the edge of their own area, Eguinaldo can get a shot away and Gabriel makes the block.

Calafiori then looks for the switch but sends the ball straight out of play under no real pressure.

Arsenal 1-0 Shakhtar

21:11 , Matt Verri

55 mins: Second goal won’t be far away if this continues.

Trossard now allowed to drive towards goal, fires an effort at goal from 20 yards out. Not far wide, goalkeeper was scrambling.

Arsenal 1-0 Shakhtar

21:10 , Matt Verri

53 mins: Riznyk gets himself into an almighty mess.

Takes too long on the ball, Martinelli comes charging in to close him down. Goalkeeper ends up stumbling back towards his own goal, Martinelli not giving him a second.

Eventually booted out of play.

Martinelli has a chance seconds later, forces Riznyk into a good save.

Simon Collings at the Emirates

21:08 , Matt Verri

Do wonder if this team now is a dry-run for Sunday?

Obviously White would be at centre-back, but Partey at right-back and Merino plus Rice as the midfield two?

Arsenal 1-0 Shakhtar

21:07 , Matt Verri

50 mins: Real chance for Zubkov on the edge of the area, he had a lot more space than he realised.

Tried to play a pass through instead, should really have just turned and shot. Chance goes.

Arsenal 1-0 Shakhtar

21:03 , Matt Verri

47 mins: Fast start from the Gunners.

Martinelli whips a great ball into the box, Trossard flicks a header towards the far corner. Just wide, and Havertz sliding in can’t catch up with it.

Back underway!

21:01 , Matt Verri

Up and running again.

Change at the break for Arsenal - Merino is on for White. Imagine that will be Partey shifting out to right-back.

How Arsenal took the lead

20:54 , Matt Verri

Here is that goal, or rather own goal.

Martinelli’s effort smacked against the post, and there was very little Riznyk could do after that.

Simon Collings at the Emirates

20:49 , Matt Verri

Arsenal very much in control and ahead after an own-goal from Riznyk.

Could, and probably should, be more than 1-0.

Martinelli been bright and sharp, and side looks better in a 4-4-2, again. Shakhtar yet to have a shot on target.

HT: Arsenal 1-0 Shakhtar

20:46 , Matt Verri

The Gunners lead at half-time through that own goal, after good work from Martinelli.

Jesus should have made it 2-0, while Havertz also went close to doubling the lead.

So far, so good for Arsenal.

Arsenal 1-0 Shakhtar

20:45 , Matt Verri

45 mins: Superb footwork from Jesus to chop away from the defenders.

Works space for the shot, goes for maximum power and it’s charged down. Just not happening for him.

One minute added on.

Arsenal 1-0 Shakhtar

20:43 , Matt Verri

43 mins: Long spell of Arsenal possession, patient build-up.

Calafiori gets bored of that, tries to flick a clever pass through. That’s cut out but Arsenal straight back on the attack.

Havertz slips in Jesus, one-on-one with the goalkeeper... saved. Big, big chance.

Arsenal 1-0 Shakhtar

20:40 , Matt Verri

40 mins: Brilliant defending!

Ball to the back post, Jesus turns it back across the face of goal and Havertz is there, looks certain to bundle it in from a few yards out.

Throws himself at it, but Matviienko just about hooks it away.

Arsenal 1-0 Shakhtar

20:37 , Matt Verri

37 mins: Plenty of rotation in that Arsenal front four, as you’d expect.

Martinelli has now gone through the middle, Trossard on the left. The Brazilian is away again, but not enough on his cut-back towards Havertz.

Arsenal 1-0 Shakhtar

20:34 , Matt Verri

34 mins: Eguinaldo down for Shakhtar, play initially goes on but the referee halts it so he can receive some treatment.

And to show White a yellow card, who had a bit of a pull on the winger and caught him in the face.

Dan Kilpatrick at the Emirates

20:33 , Matt Verri

You have to feel for Dmytro Riznyk, who was wrong-footed by a slight deflection on Gabriel Martinelli's shot, which struck the post before ricocheting in off the goalkeeper's backside.

Credit, though, to the Brazil winger, who made space for the shot. Arsenal are decent value for their lead.

Arsenal 1-0 Shakhtar

20:32 , Matt Verri

32 mins: Martinelli is running at the Shakhtar defence again, so much space for him.

Skips onto his right foot, opts against the shot this time and tries to slide a cute pass through to Trossard.

Cut out... should have just shot. He says with all the hindsight.

GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Shakhtar | Dmytro Riznyk OG 29'

20:29 , Matt Verri

Havertz drifting out to the right wing for now, allowing Jesus to go through the middle.

Ball goes out to the opposite flank, Martinelli cuts inside onto his right foot.

Low effort to the near post, bounces off the woodwork... and in! Hits the goalkeeper and rolls in.

Arsenal 0-0 Shakhtar

20:25 , Matt Verri

25 mins: White catches Eguinaldo late - the Shakhtar winger has comfortably been the biggest threat for the visitors.

After a fairly shaky start, Shakhtar have settled into this match well.

Simon Collings at the Emirates

20:23 , Matt Verri

Arsenal just lacking that final ball right now. They're getting into some nice positions, but the cutting edge isn't quite there.

Probably to be expected when there's no Saka or Odegaard.

Arsenal 0-0 Shakhtar

20:22 , Matt Verri

22 mins: Gunners are starting to take control again.

Havertz plays it wide to Martinelli, who gets to the byline and fires it low into the six-yard box.

Trossard gets across his man, can’t get the flicked effort on target.

Arsenal 0-0 Shakhtar

20:20 , Matt Verri

20 mins: Shakhtar again play out, Arsenal again nearly take full advantage.

Havertz flicks the ball through to Trossard, on his left foot and he gets it all wrong. Sliced well wide.

Arsenal 0-0 Shakhtar

20:19 , Matt Verri

19 mins: Decent spell of possession for the visitors, until they pass it straight to Trossard.

Counter is on for Arsenal, Martinelli charging free on the left, but the ball bounces up and hits Trossard on the hand. Shakhtar very grateful to hear the whistle.

Arsenal 0-0 Shakhtar

20:17 , Matt Verri

17 mins: Eguinaldo gets a shot away from the edge of the area, Gabriel with a good block. Corner for Shakhtar.

Taken short, then it’s nicely worked to create space for the cross. Booted away by Gabriel.

Arsenal 0-0 Shakhtar

20:15 , Matt Verri

15 mins: Signs that the visitors are just starting to settle.

Saying that, goalkeeper Riznyk has clipped the ball straight out of play. Not really what his side need right now.

Arsenal 0-0 Shakhtar

20:13 , Matt Verri

13 mins: Jesus has looked bright on the run, a couple of sharp runs already.

Arsenal are pressing up high, you did feel that Shakhtar are going to give them chances if they try and play their way out...

Dan Kilpatrick at the Emirates

20:09 , Matt Verri

You already sense that A) Shakhtar are not going to be able to deal with Arsenal's set-piece prowess for too much longer and B) It could be a tough night for the Brazilian left-back Pedrinho, who has already been bamboozled a couple of times.

Arsenal 0-0 Shakhtar

20:09 , Matt Verri

9 mins: White takes too long trying to clear the ball, Eguinaldo nips in and he can have a first run at the Arsenal defence.

Tries to go by himself, White does well to get back and stick a boot in, halting the Shakhtar break.

Arsenal 0-0 Shakhtar

20:05 , Matt Verri

6 mins: Havertz gets in behind, Shakhtar making a mess of playing out from the back. Rolled across the face of goal, turned behind for another corner.

No Saka for the in-swinger on the right, so Trossard with his left foot instead.

Decent ball in, flicked over for a third corner. This one drops for Calafiori, six yards out... over the bar!

Had to score.

Arsenal 0-0 Shakhtar

20:04 , Matt Verri

4 mins: Don’t think Shakhtar have had a kick yet.

Arsenal dominating the ball as you’d expect. Havertz wide to Jesus, who tries to flick it through to White on the overlap but can’t squeeze the pass through.

Simon Collings at the Emirates

20:02 , Matt Verri

Looks like Arsenal back in their 4-4-2. Martinelli and Jesus on the wings, Trossard and Havertz up top.

Mike Bassett would be proud.

Arsenal 0-0 Shakhtar

20:01 , Matt Verri

2 mins: Arsenal straight on the front foot, Martinelli drives into the box and wins a very early corner for the hosts.

Rice swings it in, towards the mass of bodies at the back post but the goalkeeper does well to parry it out.

Trossard clips a cross back in, Havertz can’t quite get up.

KICK-OFF!

20:00 , Matt Verri

We’re up and running at the Emirates!

Here we go!

19:56 , Matt Verri

Teams are out onto the pitch in north London.

Odegaard, Saka, Jorginho and Gabriel among those to wear the captain’s armband for Arsenal this season... can add Jesus to that list now.

Mudryk in attendance

19:50 , Matt Verri

Mykhailo Mudryk is in the stands tonight, watching his former club.

The winger very, very nearly joined Arsenal in a big-money move, until Chelsea swooped in at the last minute to hijack the deal.

The Gunners instead signed Leandro Trossard for not far off a quarter of the price. Worked out fairly well...

Three points a must for Gunners

19:45 , Matt Verri

Arsenal will feel this is a match they have to win tonight.

Tough run of fixtures in the weeks ahead, with trips to face Inter Milan and Sporting next up.

The Gunners then host Monaco, who are unbeaten so far this season and level on points with PSG in Ligue 1.

Odegaard reveals injury progress

19:38 , Matt Verri

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard says he is “getting closer” to make his comeback from injury.

Odegaard injured his ankle playing for Norway last month and has not played for Arsenal since then.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has said he hopes Odegaard is back in the next few weeks and the Gunners skipper has followed that up by giving a positive update.

“I’ve been working very hard on my recovery in the past few weeks, and missing out on big Champions League nights like this just makes me more determined and motivated to get back as soon as possible,” Odegaard told Arsenal’s match-day programme.

“I’m feeling better and better each day, but when it’s an ankle injury you have ups and downs as well. Some days you feel really good, and then sometimes you can have a little reaction. But in general it’s getting better and I feel like I’m getting closer now.

“I’ve been doing a lot of work in the gym, and was on an anti-gravity treadmill recently, which is really good because it takes the weight off.”

Pusic: We always play to win

19:32

Shakhtar boss Marino Pusic has insisted his side will not just sit back tonight, even if they need to be “perfect” to win.

“We have to be almost perfect to get a result against this team, and we realise that,” Pusic said.

“But we are here to compete. We will demonstrate our game like we always do, and we will follow our philosophy.

“And this philosophy will never change as long as I am a coach of Shakhtar. Maybe, some details will be different, but my goal is to win.

“We always play to win, we do not play to lose.”

Arteta offers Saka update

19:20 , Matt Verri

Mikel Arteta has revealed that Bukayo Saka remains a doubt to face Liverpool this weekend.

The Arsenal winger picked up a hamstring injury during the international break and, after not facing Bournemouth, is not involved tonight.

"He wasn't able to do the session in the way that we wanted. He wasn't still feeling good so it wasn't good news,” Arteta has told Prime Video when asked about Saka’s absence.

Arsenal take on Liverpool on Sunday in what is a crucial Premier League clash, but they could once again be forced to cope without Saka.

Asked if he expected to have Saka back for that match, Arteta responded: "At the moment I'm not very helpful, but let's see. We still have a few days to do that."

Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium

19:14 , Matt Verri

Gabriel Jesus with the captain’s armband and he needs to take his chance tonight.

He’s still waiting for his first goal of the season.

Merino: Arsenal look like a basketball team

19:03 , Matt Verri

Mikel Merino believes Mikel Arteta has transformed Arsenal into “a basketball team” by signing so many tall players.

Arteta has made a point of adding more physicality to his Arsenal squad and in the summer brought in Mikel Merino and Riccardo Calafiori, who are both 6ft 2in.

Arsenal had just two players who were not at least 6ft tall in their starting XI for Saturday’s trip to Bournemouth.

And asked about the huge side Arteta has assembled, Merino said: “Yeah, sometimes it is crazy.

“I am in the corridors or the training ground just walking, and back at my old club I used to be one of the tallest so everyone was smaller than me and now I look around and everyone is taller than me!

“We look like a basketball team now. Football now has changed and now you need a strong team, physicality is key, we need to be the most complete team possible.”

Shakhtar team news

18:58 , Matt Verri

Shakhtar XI: Riznyk, Konoplia, Bondar, Matviienko, Henrique, Bondarenko, Zubkov, Kryskiv, Sudakov, Sikan, Eguinaldo

Subs: Fesiun, Franjic, Azarov, Vinicius, Ghram, Stepanenko, Shved, Marlon, Kevin, Pedrinho, Newertton, Traore

Two changes for Gunners

18:50

Mikel Arteta tweaks his side, with Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus both brought in to start tonight.

Mikel Merino and Raheem Sterling are the two to make way, and it means Kai Havertz is likely to start in a deeper role.

Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber not in the squad as expected, while William Saliba is available to start despite his domestic suspension.

Arsenal team news

18:45 , Matt Verri

Arsenal XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Partey, Rice, Havertz, Martinelli, Jesus, Trossard

Subs: Neto, Setford, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Monlouis, Robinson, Lewis-Skelly, Jorginho, Merino, Nwaneri, Sterling, Butler-Oyedeji

Gunners make strong start in Europe

18:38 , Matt Verri

Saturday’s defeat to Bournemouth ended Arsenal’s unbeaten start to the season.

It has been a positive first two matches in the Champions League, with a draw away to Atalanta followed by a statement victory over PSG last time out.

The Gunners will be eyeing more of the same in north London tonight.

Exclusive interview with Taras Stepanenko

18:30 , Matt Verri

February 24, 2022 is a date that will be forever etched in the mind of Taras Stepanenko.

The Shakhtar Donetsk captain was at his home in Kyiv with his wife and three young sons, when suddenly he was awoken by noises everyone in Ukraine had been fearing.

“At 5am I heard the sounds of explosions,” Stepanenko tells Standard Sport. “I woke up and started to read the news, we realised the war had started.

“Immediately, my family and I went to the basement of our house. We had food, water and medication, so we stayed there for three days.”

Click here for the full interview

Nwaneri the answer?

18:20 , Matt Verri

Mikel Arteta is not one for social media, but if the Arsenal boss were to have glanced at it over the past few days he would have spotted a familiar theme.

In the wake of Saturday’s shock defeat by Bournemouth, the clamour for Ethan Nwaneri to start tonight against Shakhtar Donetsk has rapidly grown.

That is no surprise given the nature of Arsenal’s loss at the weekend. Reduced to 10 men for the third time this season, they managed just one shot on target.

Arteta stressed afterwards that it was difficult to analyse the performance following William Saliba’s red card but, in the 30 minutes Arsenal had all 11 players on the pitch, they struggled to create.

Without Odegaard and Saka, Arsenal lacked that creative spark and - given that the pair could both be absent again on Tuesday - it is easy to see why the calls for Nwaneri to start are growing.

Read our full preview here!

Wilshere to leave Arsenal

18:09 , Matt Verri

Jack Wilshere is leaving Arsenal this week to take up a coaching role at Norwich.

Wilshere has been Arsenal Under-18s head coach since 2022 but the 32-year-old will move into a first-team position working under Norwich boss Johannes Hoff Thorup.

Norwich have agreed a compensation package with Arsenal and Wilshere is due to start work at the Championship club on Thursday.

Wilshere feels the move should advance his coaching career.

Norwich play Preston on Tuesday, have a day off on Wednesday and Wilshere will start when the players are back in on Thursday.

Good day for Shakhtar so far!

18:02 , Matt Verri

These two clubs met earlier today in the UEFA Youth League, and it was the Shakhtar U19 side coming away with all three points.

Can they make it a famous double tonight?

Standard Sport prediction

17:53 , Matt Verri

The Gunners have to be strong favourites at home despite missing the likes of Odegaard, Saka and Timber.

This is not the Shakhtar of old, who could do toe to toe with some of Europe’s elite. They have registered just one shot on target across two games - a draw with Bologna and a 3-0 hammering at the hands of Atalanta. This should be fairly routine for the Gunners.

Arsenal to win 2-0.

Arsenal team news

17:45 , Matt Verri

Arsenal could be without three key players for tonight’s Champions League clash against Shakhtar Donetsk.

Gunners captain Martin Odegaard is still out with a knee injury that he picked up in September when playing for Norway. Mikel Arteta’s side are also likely to be without Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber, as both missed training on Monday afternoon.

Saka has been struggling with a hamstring injury that he picked up playing for England during the recent international break. The winger was forced during England’s defeat to Greece on October 10 and missed the Three Lions’ win over Finland three days later.

In midfielder, Jorginho could come into the side in place of Thomas Partey and Kai Havertz may slot into there, too. Arteta played a midfield three of Declan Rice, Mikel Merino and Partey at Bournemouth on Saturday, but it struggled to gel.

Havertz could drop into there to add creativity. Ethan Nwaneri is an option, but Arteta suggested on Monday he is unlikely to start.

Arsenal predicted XI (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Havertz, Jorginho, Rice; Sterling, Jesus, Martinelli

How to watch Arsenal vs Shakhtar

17:38 , Matt Verri

TV channel: The game will be broadcast on Amazon Prime Video. Coverage starts at 7pm BST ahead of an 8pm kick-off.

Live steam: The Amazon Prime website and app will offer subscribers a live stream.

LIVE coverage: Follow all the action with Standard Sport’s dedicated match blog! Simon Collings will be providing expert analysis from the ground.

Good evening!

17:31 , Matt Verri

Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Arsenal vs Shakhtar Donetsk!

The Gunners have made a strong start to their Champions League campaign, but they come into this match needing to bounce back from their first defeat of the season.

We’ll have all the latest updates, build-up and team news ahead of kick-off, which comes at 8pm BST from the Emirates Stadium.