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After Shakhtar Donetsk keeper Dmytro Riznyk’s own goal earned Arsenal a 1-0 Champions League win on Tuesday, Mikel Arteta conceded “fatigue” was present. Last Saturday, Arteta’s team lost 2-0 against the Cherries in the Premier League. Arsenal have not lost in all competitions since April’s Champions League quarter-final second leg at Bayern Munich.

Their comeback against Shakhtar was unimpressive, but Riznyk’s first-half own goal from Gabriel Martinelli’s shot earned them three points. Leandro Trossard missed a late Arsenal penalty that would have improved the scoreline at the Emirates Stadium.

“Champions League is usually tough. Arteta thought we should have scored more in the first half and I was tired in the second.

Shakhtar is bold. When you lose the ball after giving them time, you suffer.

Playing 60 minutes with 10 men a few days ago is hard. We battled for three points after leaving the game open.”

Arteta, frustrated Trossard took the penalty instead of Kai Havertz, said: “I dunno. There are takers, but Leo took it.”

Riccardo Calafiori was substituted in the second half after appearing to injure his knee, adding to Arteta’s injury woes. For Sunday’s Premier League match against leaders Liverpool, Arteta is without suspended French defender William Saliba.

Saka won’t be accessible because he’s not training, and Calafiori felt sick and couldn’t remain. Worried, “Arteta noted. Arteta asked his players to exploit the “pain” of the loss against Shakhtar, but the answer was tepid.

The Gunners have seven points from their first three Champions League games, far from their 2-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain. One point from three Champions League games has kept Shakhtar goalless. The Ukrainian champions traveled 17 hours by bus, train, and plane from Kiev to Lviv and Poland to north London, starting on Friday.

Marino Pushych’s team competed gamely but lacked a cutting edge since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino contrasted his club to an NBA basketball team after nine Bournemouth starters were above 6ft tall.

Arsenal’s set-piece success relies on that imposing strength, and Calafiori wasted a chance to take an early lead from Trossard’s corner. Arsenal controlled but never dominated until their 29th-minute opener.

Martinelli threatened the Shakhtar defense with a raid before cutting inside to fire a low drive that hit the post and rebounded off Riznyk’s back into the net. Gabriel Jesus was captain as Arteta tried to bolster his confidence after 22 games without a goal. However, Jesus finished poorly by shooting too close to Riznyk from Havertz’s pass. Riznyk dived to his right to stop Martinelli’s shot after Trossard headed wide.

Arsenal wasted a late chance when Valerii Bondar blocked Merino’s cross with an outstretched arm. Trossard took the penalty, but Riznyk saved it comfortably, causing sluggish Arsenal to feel anxious in the final.

Arsenal hung on as David Raya saved Pedrinho’s 18-yard shot and Marlon Gomes’ header was gratefully held by the Spaniard.