For the first time this season, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side on Saturday, was brought to earth by Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium, but Tuesday presents another opportunity to right their wrongs from the weekend when they welcome Shakhtar Donetsk to the Emirates in the Champions League.
Arsenal have been solid so far in Europe, recording a draw against Atalanta in their opener, followed by a dominant 2-0 win over PSG last time out.
Not only will their fixture against the Ukrainian side on Tuesday be about returning to winning ways, but they will also keep a good momentum ahead of Sunday’s showdown against Liverpool.
Arsenal are currently unbeaten in nine Champions League ties (W8, D1). All the eight matches Arsenal won were with clean sheets, but in their last four head-to-head meetings against Shakhtar Donetsk, they’ve conceded at least twice in three different outings.
Also, the North Londoners have been impregnable in Europe this season, and they have become notable for their resolute defensive performances both at home and abroad in recent months – a mountain that Tuesday’s visitors will have to climb.
Meanwhile, Shakhtar travel to north London on the back of four straight wins and one draw in their five matches. They are fourth in the Ukrainian topflight, but they’re yet to taste a triumphant joy in Europe this season with a barren draw against Bologna and a 3-0 loss to Atalanta.
They sit on the 27th spot in the 36-team league table, and they have registered the fewest shots (10), as well as the fewest shots on target (1) in the league phase of the competition so far this season.
Finding their first win here seems unlikely given their winless streak in their last seven UCL visits to England (D1, L6), but it’s not totally impossible considering how little errors cost Arsenal at the weekend against Bournemouth.
However, their lack of attacking sharpness alongside Arsenal’s pool of key players should be enough for the hosts to ease to a comfortable win and also record another clean sheet on Tuesday night.
