The dust has settled from the defeat against Bournemouth and Arsenal have set their sights against their Champions League opponents, Shakhtar Donetsk.
Shakhtar has been in good form in the Ukrainian League, notching up 19 points from their first nine games in the competition. They have also been the highest scorers in their league as well, smashing in 25 goals, so Arsenal will need to be weary of the threat they pose. Heorhiy Sudakov has been the star man for Shakhtar, netting seven times this season.
Sadly, Shakhtar’s impressive League form is a stark contrast in the Champions League, drawing their first match away to Bologna before suffering defeat to Atalanta. Arsenal, on the other hand, are unbeaten in the Champions League, having David Raya to thank away at Atalanta but put up a dominant performance against Paris St. Germain in the second fixture.
To team news, Arsenal is sweating over the fitness of Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber ahead of tomorrow’s clash with the Ukrainian outfit. According to Mikel Arteta’s press conference, both Saka and Timber will face fitness tests after the club’s training session, then a decision will be made regarding their availability. The long-term absentees, Martin Odegaard (ankle), Kieran Tierney (hamstring) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) are unavailable.
Shakhtar’s only absentee, Tymur Puzankov (ACL) is unavailable.
Arsenal: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Partey, Rice, Merino; Saka, Havertz, Trossard
Shakhtar: Riznyk; P. Henrique, Bondar, Matvienko, Konopyla; Sudakov, Bondarenko, Kryskiv; Newerton, Eguinaldo, Zubkov
Arsenal: Kieran Tierney (hamstring), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee), Martin Odegaard (ankle), Oleksandr Zinchenko (calf)
Shakhtar: Tymur Puzankov (knee)
Arsenal Form
Shakhtar
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