Arsenal vs Shakhtar Donetsk Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 UEFA Champions League | League Phase
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Mikel Arteta’s side are trying to fight on four fronts this season but the Gunners need a response after poor performances finally brought about a first defeat of the season at the weekend as they now welcome Shakhtar Donetsk to the Emirates Stadium.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Tuesday 22nd October, 2024 - UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Not televised
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – discovery+ / US – Paramount+
ARSENAL PREVIEW: GUNNERS NEED TO START FIRING
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal had been a little unconvincing before the October international break, needing a turnaround against newly-promoted Southampton and two very late goals against newly-promoted Leicester City to earn back-to-back victories in the Premier League but performances were not at the level of previous seasons.
The performance didn’t improve at the weekend either and they came unstuck against AFC Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium. William Saliba was sent off in the first-half of that match before Ryan Christie opened the scoring for the Cherries in the second-half and then Justin Kluivert completed a 2-0 victory with a penalty.
SHAKHTAR DONETSK PREVIEW: STRUGGLING SHAKHTAR
It has been a disappointing campaign for Shakhtar Donetsk as they begin this currently sit fourth and outside of the automatic European spots in the Ukrainian Premier League after the opening nine matches of their domestic campaign. They did most recently defeat Kolos Kovalivka by a goal to nil at the weekend.
The Ukrainians have started their 2024/25 UEFA Champions League campaign by collecting a point from their opening two matches. They shared a goalless draw with Bologna in Italy in their opening match before then facing Atalanta at the neutral venue of the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen, suffering a 3-0 defeat to the Bergamasci.
ARSENAL TEAM NEWS: NO ODEGAARD OR SAKA
Bukayo Saka limped off for England over the international break and wasn’t involved in the Gunners’ squad against AFC Bournemouth at the weekend.
The winger joins Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard on the sidelines with Netherlands international defender Jurrien Timber also still a doubt for this one.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Partey, Rice; Sterling, Merino, Trossard; Havertz
UNAVAILABLE: Odegaard (Injured), Saka (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Timber (Injured)
SHAKHTAR DONETSK TEAM NEWS: COUPLE OF DOUBTS
Shakhtar Donetsk have had a couple of players missing due to injury for quite a while but those two players are nearing returns from their respective injury issues.
Tymur Puzankov is nearing a return from his ACL injury, whilst Ukrainian striker Danylo Sikan is close to being fully recovered from a recent broken nose.
PREDICTED XI (4-1-4-1): Riznyk; Ghram, Bondar, Matvyenko, Pedrinho; Stepanenko; Zubkov, Kryskiv, Sudakov, Claudino; Eguinaldo
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE: Puzankov (Injured), Sikan (Injured)
KEY STATS
- Arsenal have won five and drawn one of their previous six UEFA competition matches at home against Ukrainian teams. This includes two wins against Shakhtar Donetsk (3-2 in the 2000/01 UEFA Champions League group stage and 5-1 in the 2010/11 UEFA Champions League group stage).
- Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 12 UEFA competition matches at home (W8 D4).
- Arsenal have won their last ten home group/league phase matches in UEFA competitions.
- Arsenal have won eight and drawn one of their last nine home matches in all competitions.
- Arsenal have not conceded a goal in their last seven group/league phase matches at home in UEFA competitions.
- Arsenal have kept nine clean sheets in their last 11 UEFA competition matches at home.
- Kai Havertz has scored in Arsenal’s last seven competitive home matches. If he scores in this fixture, he will equal Arsenal’s club record, which is jointly held by Thierry Henry (2000), Doug Lishman (1954) and Jimmy Brain (1927).
- Shakhtar Donetsk are without a win in their previous nine UEFA competition matches against English teams in England (D2 L7).
- Shakhtar Donetsk have won only one of their last nine UEFA competition matches against English teams (D2 L6).
- Shakhtar Donetsk are without a win in their last five UEFA competition matches (D2 L3)
ARSENAL VS SHAKHTAR DONETSK PREDICTION
This is expected to be quite a one-sided affair. Despite being unconvincing at times this season, Arsenal do still have a magnificent record at the Emirates Stadium and they did defeat Paris Saint-Germain by two goals to nil in north London a few weeks ago. Shakhtar Donetsk have a variety of mitigating factors to excuse their likely struggle this season but a struggle is what is expected with a comfortable Gunners victory likely.
ARSENAL VS SHAKHTAR DONETSK TIP: ARSENAL TO WIN -1 HANDICAP
