Arsenal vs Shakhtar Donetsk: UEFA Champions League Showdown Preview

The UEFA Champions League action returns as Arsenal are set to host Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday at 8 PM UK. Following a good start to their campaign with a 0-0 away draw against Atalanta and a 2-0 victory at home against Paris Saint-Germain, the performance level needs to be good in order to respond to the disappointing 2-0 defeat in the Premier League to Bournemouth over the weekend.

Shakhtar Donetsk’s Domestic Success vs European Struggles:

Shakhtar Donetsk is having an excellent domestic season. They are lying fourth in the Ukrainian Premier League with 19 points from nine matches after their 1-0 win over Kolos. Incidentally, Shakhtar have scored the most goals in their league this season with 25 goals scored thus far.

However, Shakhtar’s European campaign this season has not followed suit. They lie 27th in the Champions League standings after a goalless draw against Bologna and a heavy 3-0 home loss to Atalanta. However, despite those struggles, Shakhtar midfielder Heorhiy Sudakov has had a fine form this season, netting seven goals. A product of Shakhtar’s academy, Sudakov also represents the Ukraine national team alongside Arsenal’s Oleksandr Zinchenko.

What the Managers Say:

Mikel Arteta talked about the defeat over the weekend during his pre-match news conference, stating that all was about refocusing: “
We’ve lost just once in six months. Now, we must show our strength and get back to winning ways. Defeat is part of the sport, but we need to take that feeling and use it as fuel for tomorrow night’s game.”

Shakhtar head coach Marino Pusic recognised the uphill task ahead:
“Arsenal is currently among the best teams in the world. This is a great challenge for us, yet it is also an opportunity to show our strengths. We’re going to give everything to prove ourselves.”

Team News and Injury Updates:

Arsenal will be determined by late fitness tests for Bukayo Saka, hamstring, and Martin Ødegaard, ankle. The former will be out for a third successive match, but Saka may be involved depending on his status following a final training session. Jurrien Timber, muscle injury, Takehiro Tomiyasu, knee, and Kieran Tierney, hamstring, are all absent. Shakhtar will only be without goalkeeper Tymur Puzankov, ACL injury.

Arsenal vs Shakhtar: Head-to-Head Stats:

Arsenal and Shakhtar have played each other four times in the Champions League group stages – each match has ended with the home side winning. Arsenal won 3-2 in 2000 and 5-1 in 2010.
Shakhtar Donetsk have never won a Champions League game in England, losing six and drawing once.
Arsenal boast one of the better Champions League home marks and have lost just once in nine group stage matches, that coming to Olympiakos in 2015.

Shakhtar have failed to score this season in the Champions League, and their total shots (10) and shots on target (1) are dead last in the competition.
Arsenal’s Kai Havertz has produced the most high-intensity pressures in the opposition’s final third (57) than any other player in the competition this campaign.

Gabriel Jesus boasts an impressive record against Shakhtar, with four goals, a hat-trick when the sides last met while playing for Manchester City in 2018.

Match Officials:

Bastien last refereed Arsenal in October 2017 during a Europa League match when the Gunners defeated Red Star Belgrade 1-0. Milan Rodic was sent off before Olivier Giroud scored the winner in the 85th minute.

Match Officials:

Referee: Benoit Bastien
Assistant Referees: Hicham Zakrani, Aurélien Berthomieu
Fourth Official: Thomas Leonard
VAR: Benoit Millot
Assistant VAR: Willy Delajod