Match Preview: Arsenal vs Shakhtar Donetsk at 02:00 on October 23 in the Champions League group stage.
Analysis of Arsenal vs Shakhtar Donetsk Form
Returning from the international break, Arsenal finds itself in a tough spot with the absence of star player Bukayo Saka and captain Martin Odegaard. In their trip to Bournemouth, center-back William Saliba received a red card in the first half, becoming the third Arsenal player sent off in 8 Premier League matches this season. In the previous two cases, they were held to draws by Brighton and Man City.
In the latest match, Arsenal couldn’t even secure a point. Despite their efforts, the lack of key players led to their first defeat of the Premier League season. Arsenal currently sits third in the table and must shift their focus to the Champions League.
After a draw against Atalanta in their opening match, Arsenal reaffirmed their quality with a 2-0 victory over reigning French champions PSG, thanks to goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka. With 4 points from 2 matches, Arsenal is currently in 13th place in the standings and needs to rebound quickly to face Shakhtar Donetsk.
Shakhtar Donetsk remains a top team in Ukraine, but they seem to struggle on the European stage. After a draw with Bologna, they suffered a heavy defeat to Atalanta. With only 1 point, Shakhtar sits 27th in the standings, making it challenging for them to achieve a positive result at the Emirates this midweek.
Latest Team News for Arsenal vs Shakhtar Donetsk
Arsenal may choose not to risk Saka’s injury, opting to rest him for the upcoming Liverpool match. Timber, Odegaard, Tomiyasu, and Tierney remain sidelined, but Zinchenko is ready to return.
Shakhtar Donetsk arrives at the Emirates with their strongest lineup.
Projected Lineups for Arsenal vs Shakhtar Donetsk:
- Arsenal (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Havertz, Rice, Merino; Sterling, Jesus, Trossard
- Shakhtar Donetsk (4-1-4-1): Riznyk; Konoplya, Bondar, Matvienko, Henrique; Stepanenko; Zubkov, Bondarenko, Sudak, Newerton; Sikan
Despite the potential loss of creativity with Odegaard and Saka unavailable, Arsenal’s squad quality remains superior, so a victory for the Gunners against Shakhtar Donetsk would not come as a surprise.