ARSENAL – SHAKHTAR DONETSK 1-0:
Arsenal took three expected points in the Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk, but manager Mikel Arteta still has plenty to think about before the big match against Liverpool this weekend.
Previously, the Spanish manager had both Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka out with injuries.
None of the two were ready to play on Tuesday, and in addition, William Saliba is suspended for the top match against Liverpool this weekend.
It was thus expected that new signing Riccardo Calafiori would step into the center of defense, but after 72 minutes, what all Arsenal fans feared happened;
INJURY: Calafiori remained down after slipping on the wet grass.
Photo: Paul Childs
The Italian lost his footing in a duel and appeared to sustain a knee injury.
The 22-year-old had no choice but to leave the pitch to Arteta’s great concern.
– This is a real concern for Arsenal. The way he goes down, it looks like he injures his knee. This is a massive blow, reports Chris Sutton for BBC after watching the situation.
– It’s becoming critical for Arsenal, commented TV 2’s football expert Simen Samsø-Møller as Calafiori left the field after halftime.
After the match, Mikel Arteta is also not particularly optimistic.
– Riccardo felt something and couldn’t continue, so it’s worrying, the Spaniard explains.
An own goal by Shakhtar’s Dmytro Rizny after 29 minutes was the difference between the teams at the Emirates, and the London club was close to losing the lead when David Raya made a tremendous save in stoppage time.
Leandro Trossard had the chance to seal the match just before but the Belgian’s penalty was saved by Shakhtar keeper Rizny, who redeemed himself after the own goal.