“I regret playing him last night, this might be the very last time he will be starting a game for me before he leaves by January”- Arteta has finally advised £50m player to get himself a new club by January following his shambolic performance last night against Shakhtar
“I regret playing him last night, this might be the very last time he will be starting a game for me before he leaves by January”- Arteta has finally advised £50m player to get himself a new club by January following his shambolic performance last night against Shakhtar
Arsenal managed to get over the line in their Champions League encounter with Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday night.
In an uninspiring encounter at the Emirates Stadium, the Gunners took all three points thanks to a 29th-minute own goal from Dmytro Riznyk.
Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli cut inside in the box and let rip with an effort that cannoned off the post and went in off the Shakhtar goalkeeper.
Mikel Arteta’s charges didn’t manage to build on their goal, however, missing several chances including a 77th-minute penalty from Leandro Trossard.
The £27million man gambled on the goalkeeper diving to the side and opted for a soft penalty straight down the middle.
Although Riznyk did dive to his left, his legs were far back enough that he was able to thwart Trossard’s tame effort.
Chris Sutton slates Leandro Trossard’s ‘real lack of conviction’ for Arsenal penalty
BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton was not impressed by what he saw from the Belgium international.
“Seeing it on the monitor it does hit Valerii Bondar’s right arm,” Sutton said on BBC Radio 5 Live, via the BBC Sport website.
“It is a wicked ball in from Merino and Trossard was trying to attack the near post. You could say it’s harsh, but it’s the positioning of the arm.
“Leandro Trossard tries to go down the middle and Dmytro Riznyk saves it with his right boot.
“A real lack of conviction. Shakhtar Donetsk are still in this and they shouldn’t be.”
Arsenal then had David Raya to thank for several superb late contributions as he saved from Pedrinho and caught a Marlon Gomes effort.
The Gunners now also have to contend with another potential injury as Riccardo Calafiori went off with a suspected knee problem
Where do Arsenal stand after win over Shakhtar?
Arsenal have moved into fourth in the Champions League table following their 1-0 win over Shakhtar.
The Gunners’ second win in the competition – along with the 0-0 draw at Atalanta – puts them in the automatic promotion places.
Shakhtar, meanwhile, remain in the elimination places, winless after three games and yet to get on the scoresheet.
What next for Arsenal?
Arsenal are next in action on Sunday afternoon as they host Premier League title riv
