Arsenal add to European tally against Shakhtar Donetsk
Arsenal took another three points in the Champions League on Tuesday, 19 October, hitting five goals past Ukranian champions Shakhtar Donetsk at the Emirates Stadium.
With three games played, Arsene Wenger's men have scored a remarkable 14 goals in the competition.
A late goal from Emirates returnee Eduardo left the final score at 5–1 after goals from Alexandre Song, Samir Nasri, Cesc Fabregas, Jack Wilshere and Marouane Chamakh made it game over for Shakhtar.
Pyatov goes wrong in the first half
After the home team created a few chances during the first 15 minutes, Song put Wenger's men ahead after a crucial error by Andriy Pyatov in the Shakhtar goal. The keeper rose high to collect an easy ball at the far post following a corner, but fumbled inexplicably
and let Song hit the opening goal into the open net.
It was then Song's cross that led to Arsenal's second, as his cross from the right took a deflection on its way into the box and landed with Samir Nasri after Darijo Sma failed to clear it.
The French international took two touches past his man and thumped a left-footed shot that Pyatov was nowhere near stopping.
15 minutes into the second half, Fabregas put the game beyond doubt with a penalty after Johan Djourou was unnecessarily fouled by Luiz Adriano during an Arsenal set piece. The Spaniard, who returned from injury for the game and was substituted shortly after
his goal, stepped up and hit the penalty high into the left corner.
Wilshere and Chamakh wrap things up
In the 66th minute, Wilshere got his first European goal to the delight of the Arsenal fans. The English prospect ran onto Chamakh's lovely flick and combined with Tomas Rosicky before hitting a neat chip past Pyatov for his team's fourth.
Having set up that goal, Chamakh added Arsenal's fifth two three minutes later when he collected Nasri's chip in the box, made sure he wasn't offside and beat Pyatov via the keeper's own leg.
Eduardo got a goal for the Ukranians in stoppage time, making a well-timed run into the box and hitting a composed volley into the left corner. The Croatian, who left the London club last summer, did not celebrate.
After their convincing 5–1 victory, Wenger's team are now three points ahead of Shakhtar in Group H with the maximum nine points from three games. SC Braga are third with three points, while FK Partizan have yet to collect anything for their efforts.
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