BREAKING NEWS: “I regret starting him last night; this could be the last time he plays for me before he departs in January,” Arteta stated, advising the £50m player to seek a new club after his poor performance against Shakhtar.

Arsenal secured a hard-fought victory in their Champions League encounter against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday night, winning by a single goal. The match, played at the Emirates Stadium, saw the Gunners claim all three points, thanks to an own goal in the 29th minute by Shakhtar’s goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk.

Gabriel Martinelli made a strong run into the box and fired a shot that hit the post before deflecting off Riznyk into the net, giving Arsenal the lead.

Despite going ahead early, Arsenal struggled to extend their advantage. They missed several key opportunities, the most notable being a penalty in the 77th minute. Leandro Trossard stepped up to take the spot-kick but opted for a weak shot down the center, which Riznyk, despite diving to his left, managed to save with his foot.

BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton was critical of Trossard’s attempt, pointing out the lack of decisiveness, commenting, “It does hit Valerii Bondar’s right arm… Trossard tries to go down the middle, and Riznyk saves it with his right boot. A real lack of conviction.”

As the game wore on, Arsenal became increasingly reliant on their goalkeeper, David Raya, to preserve their narrow lead. Raya made a series of important saves, particularly in the closing stages, denying efforts from Shakhtar’s Pedrinho and Marlon Gomes. His performances were crucial in ensuring Arsenal held on to their slender advantage.

However, the victory came at a potential cost for Arsenal, with Riccardo Calafiori leaving the match with a suspected knee injury, adding to the club’s growing list of injury concerns.

Despite the lackluster performance, the win saw Arsenal rise to fourth in the Champions League standings, with two wins and a draw from their three matches. On the other hand, Shakhtar Donetsk remains without a win or a goal in the competition after three outings.

Looking ahead, Arsenal’s focus will shift back to the Premier League, where they face a crucial match on Sunday afternoon against a rival in the title race. The team will be hoping to build on their European momentum and address some of the issues seen in this match.