Arsenal edge past Shakhtar to remain unbeaten in Europe

Arsenal bounced back from their defeat against Bournemouth by securing a 1-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League.

Seventy-two hours after they were dealt a surprise first loss of the season at the Vitality Stadium, Mikel Arteta's side retained their unbeaten record in Europe so far when Gabriel Martinelli’s first-half strike rebounded in off goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk.

Leandro Trossard missed a penalty with 14 minutes left, and David Raya also pulled off a fine save in stoppage time, while Arsenal’s evening was soured by a second-half Riccardo Califiori injury. Fellow defender Ben White also failed to emerge after the interval just five days before Liverpool’s visit to north London in the Premier League.

Arsenal were again without Bukayo Saka, with the hamstring injury he sustained during the international break, and the England international is expected to be absent on Sunday. Another man poised to be missing against the Reds will be William Saliba after the Gunners elected not to appeal his red card at Bournemouth.

Here, he took his place in the centre of Arsenal’s defence, with Gabriel Jesus installed on the right wing.

The first big chance of the evening, perhaps predictably, came from an Arsenal corner, with Calafiori blazing over from six yards out when he might have done better. And it was Calafiori who registered the home side’s first effort on target after 24 minutes, following a controlled, if not electric opening, from the Gunners.

However, five minutes later, the breakthrough arrived. Martinelli made space for himself in the area and his right-footed drive took a slight deflection en route to the foot of Riznyk’s post before hitting the goalkeeper on the back and rolling over the line.

Kai Havertz then