Arsenal vs Shakhtar Donetsk Preview: On the Rebound

Yesterday at 03:00 PM

After the first loss of the 2024/25 season, the Gunners look to bounce back at home in the Champions League

Saturday marked the first defeat for Arsenal this season across all competitions, ending an unbeaten run that began all the way back in April. It was a gut punch that gave the Gunners a major wake up call ahead of a tough slate of matches that could have major ramifications on their trajectory this season.

The loss at Bournemouth was the worst Arsenal have played all season, for myriad reasons - new players still bedding into the system, injuries keeping key contributors off the pitch, and yet another sending off. It was a frustrating return to play after the second international break, and one that the Gunners will want to quickly put behind them.

Arsenal don't have to wait too long for a chance to rebound, though, as they quickly return to the Emirates for a Champions League match on Tuesday night with an opportunity to right the wrongs and get back to playing their game, their way, as they welcome Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk for the third match of the Champions League league stage.

Can Mikel Arteta and company shake off the weekend and get back to winning ways?

Here are five talking points ahead of Tuesday's match:

Know the Enemy

Shakhtar Donetsk, alongside Dynamo Kyiv, are the crown jewel of the Ukrainian Premier League. The two-time reigning title holders have won 6 league titles over the past decade and boast 15 titles to their name, just one behind Kyiv. Considering the UPL was formed in 1991, their combined 32 titles means that they are the only two teams to have won their league. Ever.

Shakhtar enter Tuesday currently 4th place in the UPL. Despite being 6 points behind league leaders Kyiv, they have scored the most goals in the league, with 25 scored across their first 9 matches. In the Champions League, they are currently 27th, with one draw and one loss from two matches so far.

They are in a fair run of form at the moment, with 4 wins and a draw in their last 5 matches (W-W-D-W-W). Their top scorer, Heorhii Sudakov, has found the net 7 times in the domestic league. In the Champions League, however, they have found opposing defenses far less inviting, with no goals scored through two matches.

Arsenal have only ever played Shakhtar 4 times, all in the Champions League. The two clubs have split the difference with 2 homes wins and 2 away losses each, with the last matches played in 2010.

Last Time Out

Arsenal's second match of the Champions League campaign was an emphatic 2-0 win over Paris St. Germaine. Playing at home, the Gunners bullied the French powerhouse into submission early with a smothering press and a physical approach that kept PSG from finding any room to grow into the match before it was too late. Two early goals from Arsenal via a Kai Havertz header and a rare Saka set piece goal were enough to see out the match and earn Arsenal's first win of the Champions League campaign.

The win also helped keep Arsenal well out of the drop zone of the new league table set up for the Champions League. Heading into Tuesday, the Gunners are currently 13th, which is good enough to make it to the next round. A top 8 finish, though, guarantees a 1st round bye for the knockouts, a goal that could save some undue wear and tear for players.

Injuries & Suspensions

Arsenal continue to navigate a flurry of injury issues that have forced Mikel Arteta into a few lineup changes that we otherwise wouldn't ordinarily see.

Jurrien Timber, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Martin Ødegaard, and Bukayo Saka all missed Saturday's match through injury, with the absence of Saka and Ødegaard profoundly felt, as no one was able to pick up the role of creator for the Gunners. The sooner they return, the better.

William Saliba's red card means he will miss next weekend's massive league match against Liverpool, but he remains available for Tuesday, as the CL is a UEFA competition and therefore not affected by FA suspensions.

Predicted Lineup

Arteta took a lot of liberties with rotation on Saturday with a poor showing in return. I'd imagine we will see a much more familiar lineup on Tuesday to not only ensure the best chance at keeping apace with the rest of the pack in the Champions League, but in preparation for a red-hot Liverpool on Saturday.

In the attack, Gabriel Martinelli will likely return to the left. His pace was sorely missed in the early stages against Bournemouth as Leandro Trossard had difficulties exploiting one on ones on the left. Kai at striker is the de facto choice, while Saka, if fit, will start on the right. If he is still out, Raheem Sterling showed some promising play on Saturday before the red card saw him subbed early.

Midfield is where Arteta took a risk that backfired on Saturday. The trio of Merino, Partey, and Rice were physically robust but utterly devoid of creativity while being a step too slow to deal with the quickness of the Cherries. Merino still looks a man learning the ropes of Arteta's system, so he is the most likely to make way for Leandro Trossard, who looked comfortable as the creative outlet against PSG. Rice and Partey remain locked in at the 6 and the 8.

The only spot in the defense that may change is right back if Timber is healthy. His dynamism has been a welcome addition, and his absence has been felt the last several matches. He will need match time ahead of Liverpool, where his dogged defending will be vital against the Reds. Until then, the role is Ben White's.

Raya will start at goal.

Our Own Worst Enemy

Arsenal have done a tremendous job of hampering their own progress this season with needless (and specious) sending offs. Saturday's red card for Saliba was the third of the season, and one that speaks to a larger issue with Arsenal, which is getting out of their own way. I'm not here to rehash the decisions that have resulted in Arsenal's red cards and discuss whether or not they were warranted. The major overlap in each one is that the players put themselves in positions where they gave refs the opportunity to make game-changing decisions, all of which went against the Gunners. In a game of minute margins, Arsenal are losing the war.

Part of showing your title credentials is discipline. Arsenal were quite good at avoiding situations where the ref could make a call against them in the previous campaign, with only two red cards all of last season. This season's total has already surpassed that, and the Gunners have put themselves into the crosshairs of officials who will now expect them to be reckless, regardless of whether or not that is the case. A sharper mentality and cleaner play have to be established, unless they want the cycle to perpetuate itself.

The season is still early. I am not quite ready to say the sky is falling, despite the maddening narrative spun by the media over the loss against Bournemouth. However, that doesn't mean I don't have concerns. Last season, Arsenal's title campaign was majorly dented in the first half of the season and dug a hole they couldn't get out of despite an immaculate second half of the season. As it stands, the Gunners are not in trouble yet, but they are playing with fire.

The silver lining is that when Arsenal are allowed to play with all 11 players on the pitch, they are incredibly hard to beat. Arteta's system is one that has drastically improved Arsenal's overall tenacity and toughness, for better or worse, but far more for the better. We all know what this team is capable of when they are locked in and focused. The sooner they can shake off Saturday and return to that, the better. And what better time to do that than under the bright lights, at home, on Tuesday?

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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