Goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk’s own goal helped Arsenal beat Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 in the third round of the 2024-2025 Champions League.

In the 29th minute, Declan Rice pulled the ball from midfield and passed it to the left to Gabriel Martinelli. The Brazilian striker led into the penalty area, feinted a few times and then shot into the near corner. The ball hit the post, hit goalkeeper Riznyk and bounced into the net.

This is the first time Arsenal have won 1-0 in the Champions League group stage since November 2003. The last time they won with a similar result was thanks to an own goal in September 2004, against PSV of the Netherlands.

In this match, Arsenal are still without two of their most creative players, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, due to injury. As a result, their play was somewhat choppy, never creating enough pressure to penetrate the Shakhtar defence despite having 56% possession, 13 shots with five on target – compared to the visitors’ 9 and 1.

The best chance of the first half came in the 6th minute. Leandro Trossard’s corner kick bounced right into Riccardo Calafiori’s reach, but the Italian defender shot high into the air in front of an empty goal. In the 44th minute, Kai Havertz assisted, but Gabriel Jesus’ cross was not dangerous enough to beat Riznyk in a one-on-one situation.

In the second half, while struggling to find a way to increase the gap, Arsenal benefited from VAR. In the 74th minute, after going to the sidelines to review the video, the referee determined that Valeriy Bondar had blocked the ball with his hand in the penalty area from Mikel Merino’s cross and awarded the home team a penalty. But on the 11m mark, Trossard shot low into the middle and was blocked by Riznyk with his foot.

Trossard shoots in the match against Shakhtar in the third round of the Champions League. Photo: Reuters.

This missed shot caused Arsenal to have a heart-stopping final minutes. In the 82nd minute, Heorhiy Sudakov shot from outside the box and the ball went over the bar. In the extra minute, Pedrinho tried his luck with a shot from a distance, but goalkeeper David Raya remained focused and pushed it all the way to the sideline.

Only when the referee blew the final whistle could coach Mikel Arteta and the fans at the Emirates Stadium breathe a sigh of relief.

However, Arsenal’s victory was not complete, when Calafiori was injured and had to make way for 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly in the 72nd minute. Ben White returned to the starting lineup, but appeared to have a problem and was replaced by Mikel Merino shortly after the break.

This raises concerns about the defense when Arsenal take on Liverpool in the 9th round of the Premier League on 27/10, in the context that center-back William Saliba is definitely absent due to suspension.

Arsenal lineup: Raya, White (Merino 46), Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori (Lewis-Skelly 72), Rice, Partey, Jesus (Sterling 68), Trossard (Jorginho 87), Martinelli, Havertz Shakhtar: Riznyk, Konoplia, Bondar, Matvienko, Pedrinho, Zubkov (Pedrinho 64), Bondarenko (Claudino 87), Kryskiv, E guinaldo (Traore 84), Sudakov, Sikan (Kevin 64)