Champions League: Despite Trossard’s missed penalty, Arsenal secures win through own goal against Shakhtar

Victory keeps Arsenal in the top eight of the new 36-team league phase with its next match away at Inter Milan. Shakhtar will seek to bounce back in its next match at home to Young Boys.

Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhaes celebrate their first goal, an own goal scored by Shakhtar Donetsk’s Dmytro Riznyk. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

Arsenal needed an own goal to seal a scrappy 1-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday as it made it two wins out of three in the Champions League to soften the blow of its first domestic league defeat of the season at the weekend.

The host missed a penalty in the second half and squandered a number of decent chances, but the reality was it never found top gear and had to withstand some late pressure from its Ukrainian opponent.

Arsenal, which was beaten 2-0 by Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday, made a fast start with Brazilians Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus both having good opportunities before a fortunate opener in the 29th minute.

AS IT HAPPENED: Arsenal vs Shakhtar, UEFA Champions League Highlights

A low shot from Martinelli rebounded off the post and off the back of Shakhtar keeper Dmytro Riznyk for what turned out to be the only goal of the game.

Arsenal would have doubled its advantage before half-time was it not for Shakhtar captain Mykola Matviyenko who hooked the ball off the line to prevent a diving Kai Havertz nodding in.

Leandro Trossard also missed a second-half penalty awarded by VAR following a handball in the box.

Shakhtar, which is yet to win in the Champions League this season, put more pressure on Arsenal after that and went close to equalising when substitute Pedrinho had a long-range effort superbly saved by Arsenal keeper David Raya in stoppage time.

Victory lifts Arsenal provisionally into the top four of the new 36-team league phase before Wednesday’s fixtures with its next match away at Inter Milan. Shakhtar will seek to bounce back in its next match at home to Swiss side Young Boys.

Arsenal will be relieved to have sealed the win but without key playmakers Bukayo Saka and captain Martin Odegaard which was missing through injury, was well off its fluent best.

Arsenal defender Ben White was substituted at halftime, followed with 20 minutes to go by Riccardo Calafiori after the Italian had landed awkwardly following a challenge.