Mikel Arteta described his Arsenal players as looking ‘tired’ and lacking ‘sharpness’ after they laboured to a 1-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
An own goal from goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk, Gabriel Martinelli’s shot having rebounded off him and into the net, settled a match the Gunners had played following a 2-0 defeat by Bournemouth last weekend.
In the dying minutes, David Raya pulled off a good save to deny Pedrinho’s strike in an Arsenal display which was far from top gear in the face of the spirited Ukrainian side. Leandro Trossard also had a penalty saved in the 77th minute.
Arteta said: ‘I think two very different halves. The first (half) we were very dominant and created four big, big chances.
‘We should have put the game to bed with the amount of dominance and territory that we had. We looked tired. We lacked that sharpness with and without the ball.
Mikel Arteta felt his players looked ‘tired’ in their 1-0 win against Shakhtar Donetsk
Gabriel Martinelli’s shot hit the post and went in off the Shakhtar goalkeeper for the only goal of the game
‘We had chances again and missed a big penalty. That emotion was difficult to overcome and then we had to dig in. But credit to them. They are a big side and the moment you give them space and you had them chances in transition, they look a real threat.’
A major concern for Arteta will be Riccardo Calafiori, who was substituted off after landing awkwardly on his knee.
With William Saliba missing this Sunday’s huge Premier League clash against Liverpool after being sent off against Bournemouth, the Spaniard can ill afford another defensive injury. It follows the club sweating over the fitness of Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber who did not make Tuesday’s squad.
Though Arteta confirmed Ben White’s half-time substitution was because of a fear of yet another sending off — and not injury related.
He was unable to continue and had to be helped off the pitch by the medical staff just five days before Arsenal are due to play Liverpool in the Premier League
He added: ‘Ben, it was my decision to take him out. He had a yellow card and we’ve played enough with 10 men in recent periods. They had a lot of density on that side, a lot of players on that side, so I didn’t want to take any chances there.
‘With Riccy he had to come off because he felt something. I don’t know the extent of it, so in that sense not great news.’
