Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal got what’s most important – the three points – in the UEFA Champions League clash at home to Shakhtar Donetsk, but he may have been left far from elated with how the night ended for the Gunners.
Arsenal went into the game looking to bounce back from a 2-0 defeat at Bournemouth in the Premier League, and went at the Ukrainian side with intent early on, leading to the own goal by Dmytro Riznyk after Gabriel Martinelli’s shot hit the post and bounced off the Shakhtar goalkeeper into the net.
Martinelli and Riccardo Calafiori ran the show for Arsenal on the left, and combined to create some chaos in the Shakhtar box just before half-time, although the visitors somehow cleared their lines when Kai Havertz was odds-on to head in the second goal for Arsenal from point-blank range.
Shakhtar provided little threat in the second half, while Arsenal should have gone 2-0 up with 20 minutes to go, only for Leandro Trossard to see his spot-kick saved Riznyk.
The missed penalty came less than five minutes after Calafiori was forced off with an injury, as the Italian defender appeared to twist his knee when he slipped while in possession.
Arsenal ended the game with positives to hold, regardless. The Premier League side is yet to concede after three matches in Europe and will remain just two points off the top after moving up to fourth on the standings ahead of Wednesday night’s action.