Arsenal will be aiming to bounce back from their first defeat of the season at the weekend when they host Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Tuesday evening.
The Gunners fell to a disappointing 2-0 loss at Bournemouth as William Saliba was sent off in the first half – the third red card Arsenal have received in the Premier League this season. The result has left Mikel Arteta’s side three points off Manchester City, their title foes over the last two campaigns.
Arsenal’s unbeaten record remains intact in the Champions League, however, with an opening goalless draw with Europa League winners Atalanta followed up by a dominant 2-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain on Matchday 2.
Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar also managed a goalless draw in their first league phase match of the season but fell to a hefty 3-0 defeat to Atalanta in their most recent European outing. A clash with Arsenal is followed by more favourable fixtures against Swiss side Young Boys and Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven.
Here is 90min’s guide to Arsenal’s midweek clash in Europe.
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Arsenal team news
Despite being sent off last time out against Bournemouth, Saliba will be available in the Champions League. The defender will serve his suspension in the Premier League, missing next weekend’s crunch clash with Liverpool.
Bukayo Saka is a doubt heading into the clash with Shakhtar after missing the trip to the Vitality Stadium through injury. The winger hurt himself on international duty and missed the squad entirely on Saturday.
Jurrien Timber is also a doubt with a thigh problem and Martin Odegaard, Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu are all unavailable.
Arsenal predicted lineup vs Shakhtar Donetsk (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Jorginho, Havertz; Sterling, Jesus, Martinelli.
Shakhtar Donetsk team news
Shakhtar have very few injury concerns travelling to north London and their almost full-strength squad offers them the chance to make life difficult for the Gunners.
Georgiy Sudakov has been linked with a move to the Premier League in previous transfer windows, with Liverpool and Arsenal among the sides to have shown interest. Tuesday could be an audition for the young Ukrainian.
Artem Bondarenko is another youthful talent worth keeping an eye on, with the attacking midfielder having provided a combined six goals and assists in the Ukrainian top flight this term.
Shakhtar Donetsk predicted lineup vs Arsenal (3-4-2-1): Riznyk; Bondar, Ghram, Matviyenko; Gomes, Kryskiv, Stepanenko, Henrique; Bondarenko, Sudakov; Sikan.
Arsenal may have suffered a surprise defeat at the weekend but the Gunners have only tended to look susceptible this season when reduced to ten men. Providing they avoid a fourth red card of the campaign on Tuesday, they should get back to winning ways with little fuss.
Shakhtar showed their defensive fragility against Atalanta in their last Champions League outing and will be hard pushed to keep the score down in north London. Their only hope is that Arteta rests some players ahead of next weekend’s clash with Liverpool.
