Arsenal vs. Shakhtar Donestk match thread: refresh, reload, replay

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The Gunners host the Ukrainian Champions in the Champions League.

Arsenal are back in Champions League action today, hosting Ukrainian Champions Shakhtar Donetsk at the Emirates. The quick turnaround from Saturday's disappointing loss to Bournemouth is exactly the palate cleanser Mikel Arteta's side needs and gives the Gunners a chance to build some momentum and form ahead of Saturday's huge match against Liverpool. That's not to say Arsenal can (or will) take Shakhtar lightly. As I've consistently said, the Champions League is a difficult competition. Any team can trip you up.

Arsenal and Shakhtar Donetsk have met four times in the Champions League, with each match won by the home side. Shakhtar have played seven CL matches in England, losing six and drawing the most recent one at Manchester City in 2019. The Gunners have won 8 of their last 9 (and drew the other) group stage matches in the Champions League dating back to 2015. This season, Mikel Arteta's side are yet to concede in the CL. The club haven't registered at least three straight Champions League clean sheets since 2007, when Arsene Wenger led the club to four consecutive shutouts.

Shakhtar are led by a pair of attacking midfielders, Georgiy Sudakov (7g, 1a in the Ukraine Premier League) and Artem Bondarenko (4g, 2a). The visitors are a young side with an average age of 24 in their starting lineup. That said, they've got a fair bit of Champions League experience up and down the roster because they're often the Ukraine Premier League's representative in the competition. Shakhtar have won 6 of the last 7 UPL titles awarded and 11 of the last 15.

Centerback Mykola Matviyenko is among the most experienced of the bunch with more than 50 European appearances, including 32 in the CL, and nearly 70 caps for the Ukrainian national team. Keep an eye on pacey winger Oleksandr Zubko as well. Arsenal's left back options are not necessarily blessed with pace, and the 28-year old wide attacker will test their anticipation and positioning.

The Ukrainian side haven't scored through two Champions League matches — a 0-0 draw at Bologna and a 3-0 loss at home to Atalanta. That's a solid away draw. And you know they'll be hungry to score their first goal of the season in the competition.

Expect Mikel Arteta to deploy a strong lineup, likely as strong as fitness permits. Bukayo Saka missed out at the weekend with a hamstring problem and may not be fit / ready to be risked. Gabriel Martinelli came into the weekend carrying a calf problem and was only able to feature as a substitute. Jurrien Timber missed out at the weekend with a thigh problem. Martin Ødegaard, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Kieran Tierney are all unavailable, although there are rumors that the Arsenal captain may return for the Liverpool match (although I doubt it).

Some have been calling for Ethan Nwaneri to start, given how disjointed the Arsenal attack looked in the opening 30 minutes against Bournemouth with three ball-winning, early attacking phase ball progressors in Thomas Partey, Declan Rice, and Mikel Merino on the pitch and the formation short on final third creativity. Honestly, I don't think there is much chance Mikel Arteta starts the youngster. UPDATE: I was right.

Arsenal - Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Rice, Partey, Trossard, Jesus, Martinelli, Havertz

Shakhtar Donetsk - Riznyk, Bondar, Eguinaldo, Kryskiv, Sudakov, Zubkov, Pedro Henrique, Sikan, Bondarenko, Matviienko, Konoplia

WHO: Arsenal vs Shakhtar Donetsk
WHAT: Champions League league table match 3
WHEN: Tuesday, October 22nd, 3:00pm EST/12:00pm PST/8:00pm GMT
WHERE: The Emirates Stadium, London
HOW TO WATCH: Streaming on the Paramount+ app.

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