Emirates Stadium will be the venue for a David-vs-Goliath clash as Arsenal take on Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League. After a surprising loss to Bournemouth, the Gunners will be eager to bounce back, and Mikel Arteta is likely to field a strong starting XI to secure a crucial win. Gabriel Martinelli is expected to return to the starting lineup, while Bukayo Saka could feature, albeit likely as a second-half substitute.
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Shakhtar Donetsk, meanwhile, will be looking to recover after a disappointing 3-0 loss to Atalanta. Despite their efforts, the Ukrainian side will face a tough challenge against a motivated Arsenal team at home. Goalkeeper Tymur Puzankov remains the only notable absentee, while key midfielder Taras Stepanenko is set to return after being rested over the weekend. Arsenal’s last encounter with Shakhtar at the Emirates saw them emerge as dominant 5-1 victors, and they’ll be looking to replicate that performance. The match is scheduled for October 22, 2024, at 20:00.
Arsenal vs Shakhtar Donetsk: Important H2H Stats
As Arsenal prepare to host Shakhtar Donetsk at Emirates Stadium, here are the key head-to-head (H2H) stats and performance insights ahead of this Champions League encounter:
- Recent H2H Encounter: The last time these two teams met was on November 3, 2010, with Shakhtar Donetsk securing a 2-1 victory at home. However, much has changed since then, and Arsenal will be looking to take control on their home turf this time.
- Key Players:
- Arsenal: Leandro Trossard has been a creative force for Arsenal, leading the team with 1 assist this season. His ability to set up goals will be essential, especially in breaking down Shakhtar’s defense.
- Shakhtar Donetsk: With a solid defensive performance being critical, Shakhtar will need to avoid giving away cheap fouls. Alaa Ghram, who has 1 yellow card, will need to be cautious to avoid further disciplinary issues.
- Disciplinary Concerns:
- Arsenal: Riccardo Calafiori has been booked 1 time this season, and Arsenal will need to ensure discipline, especially if the game gets physical.
- Shakhtar Donetsk: Alaa Ghram, also with 1 yellow card, could be a focus for Arsenal’s attackers if he is prone to making rash challenges.
- Scoring and Conceding Patterns:
- Arsenal: The Gunners have been most effective in the 15-30 minute window, scoring 50% of their goals during this period. They might look to start fast and seize control early in the game.
- Shakhtar Donetsk: The Ukrainian side will need to be alert during this phase, as conceding early could set the tone for a difficult evening against a strong Arsenal side.
- Possession and Corners:
- Possession Stats: Shakhtar Donetsk hold a slight edge in possession, averaging 49.00% compared to Arsenal’s 40.50%. However, playing at the Emirates could see Arsenal push to control more of the ball.
- Corners: Shakhtar Donetsk have been more active in generating set-piece opportunities, averaging 3.00 corners per match, compared to Arsenal’s 1.50. This could be an area they target to create scoring chances.
- Both Teams to Score (BTTS) Stats: Interestingly, neither team has seen BTTS in their matches so far this season (0% for both), suggesting that this could be a match where defenses are strong, or one team dominates without allowing the other to score.
These key H2H stats suggest that Arsenal’s ability to start strong and capitalize on early opportunities could be a deciding factor. While Shakhtar may try to control possession, the Gunners’ attacking depth and home advantage make them favorites to control the outcome.
Arsenal Vs Shakhtar Donetsk Season Stats
| Performance Summary | Arsenal | Shakhtar Donetsk |
|---|---|---|
| Total Wins | 1 | 0 |
| Home Wins | 1 | 0 |
| Away Wins | 0 | 0 |
| Total Draws | 1 | 1 |
| Home Draws | 0 | 0 |
| Away Draws | 1 | 1 |
| Total Lost | 0 | 1 |
| Home Losses | 0 | 1 |
| Away Losses | 0 | 0 |
| Total Goals For | 2 | 0 |
| Home Goals For | 2 | 0 |
| Away Goals For | 0 | 0 |
| Total Goals Against | 0 | 3 |
| Home Goals Against | 0 | 3 |
| Away Goals Against | 0 | 0 |
| Total Clean Sheet | 2 | 1 |
| Home Clean Sheet | 1 | 0 |
| Away Clean Sheet | 1 | 1 |
| Total Failed To Score | 1 | 2 |
| Home Failed To Score | 0 | 1 |
| Away Failed To Score | 1 | 1 |
| Total Av Goals Scored | 1 | 0 |
| Home Av Goals Scored | 2 | 0 |
| Away Av Goals Scored | 0 | 0 |
| Total Av Goals Conceded | 0 | 1.5 |
| Home Av Goals Conceded | 0 | 3 |
| Away Av Goals Conceded | 0 | 0 |
| Total 1st Goal Scored | 20m | 0m |
| Home 1st Goal Scored | 20m | 0m |
| Away 1st Goal Scored | 0m | 0m |
| Total 1st Goal Conceded | 0m | 21m |
| Home 1st Goal Conceded | 0m | 0m |
| Away 1st Goal Conceded | 0m | 21m |
| Goals Scoring Minutes | Arsenal | Shakhtar Donetsk |
|---|---|---|
| 0-15 | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
| 15-30 | 1 (50%) | 0 (0%) |
| 30-45 | 1 (50%) | 0 (0%) |
| 45-60 | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
| 60-75 | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
| 75-90 | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
| Goals Conceded Minutes | Arsenal | Shakhtar Donetsk |
|---|---|---|
| 0-15 | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
| 15-30 | 0 (0%) | 1 (33.3%) |
| 30-45 | 0 (0%) | 1 (33.3%) |
| 45-60 | 0 (0%) | 1 (33.3%) |
| 60-75 | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
| 75-90 | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
| Combined Match Stats | Arsenal | Shakhtar Donetsk |
|---|---|---|
| Attacks | 156 | 132 |
| Dangerous Attacks | 70 | 54 |
| Av Possession Percent | 40.50 | 49.00 |
| Fouls | 17 | 18 |
| Av Fouls Per Game | 8.50 | 9.00 |
| Offside | 6 | 3 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 0 |
| Yellow Cards | 1 | 5 |
| Shots Blocked | 1 | 3 |
| Shots Off Target | 4 | 7 |
| Av Shots Off Target | 2.00 | 3.50 |
| Shots On Target | 7 | 1 |
| Av Shots On Target | 3.50 | 0.50 |
| Total Corners | 3 | 6 |
| Av Corners | 1.50 | 3.00 |
| BTTS | 0 | 0 |
| Av Player Rating Per Match | 6.99 | 6.7 |
| Tackles | 36 | 27 |
| Total Match Goals Percentages | Arsenal | Shakhtar Donetsk | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | Away | Home | Away | |
| Over 0.5 | 100 | 0 | 100 | 0 |
| Over 1.5 | 100 | 0 | 100 | 0 |
| Over 2.5 | 0 | 0 | 100 | 0 |
| Over 3.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Over 4.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Over 5.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Under 0.5 | 0 | 100 | 0 | 100 |
| Under 1.5 | 0 | 100 | 0 | 100 |
| Under 2.5 | 100 | 100 | 0 | 100 |
| Under 3.5 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Under 4.5 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Under 5.5 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
Arsenal vs Shakhtar Donetsk Prediction
Based on the current form and key stats, Arsenal head into this match as clear favorites, especially with the advantage of playing at the Emirates Stadium. After a disappointing loss to Bournemouth, the Gunners will be eager to bounce back, and with Mikel Arteta likely fielding a strong lineup, they should have the firepower to secure a comfortable win. Players like Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard will be key to unlocking Shakhtar’s defense, and Arsenal’s ability to score early (50% of their goals between 15-30 minutes) could set the tone for the match.
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Shakhtar Donetsk, on the other hand, are coming off a 3-0 loss to Atalanta and have struggled defensively, especially against stronger opposition. Although they hold a slight edge in possession (49.00%), they will find it difficult to control the game against a motivated Arsenal side at home. Their defense will need to be at its best, particularly in the opening stages, to avoid falling behind quickly. With their recent struggles, including conceding multiple goals in key matches, Shakhtar will need to focus on damage control.
Given Arsenal’s strong attacking lineup, home advantage, and Shakhtar’s defensive frailties, a comfortable home win appears to be the most likely outcome.
Predicted Scoreline: Arsenal 3-0 Shakhtar Donetsk
Expect a dominant performance from Arsenal, with the Gunners controlling the pace and finding the net early. Shakhtar will struggle to keep up, and unless they can tighten up their defense significantly, Arsenal should have no trouble securing a comprehensive victory to get back on track in the Champions League.