Champions League preview: Shakhtar Donetsk v Arsenal
Things are looking quite rosy for Arsenal at the moment.
They have won their last five games in all competitions, conceding only two goals along the way. Their 3-0 win at Manchester City highlighted their title credentials, while the 88th minute winner from Alex Song against a stubborn West Ham United at the weekend kept the pressure on leaders Chelsea in the Premier League.
They’re not doing too badly in the Champions League either. Three wins out of three have put Arsène Wenger’s men in command of the group, and another three points tonight against a team who were expected to be their closest challengers would guarantee qualification and cement top-spot.
When Arsenal faced the 2009 UEFA Cup winners a few weeks ago at the Emirates, they put them to the sword, scoring five and breaking the record for the number of goals scored (14) in the opening three Champions League group games.
Shakhtar were awful that night, and that is being kind to them.
Wenger expected a tough match, but it never came, and at times it became more like a training session than a European tie. The Frenchman once again is expecting a tough match, and thinks we will see a different Shakhtar.
“I expect Shakhtar Donetsk to have a reaction of course and a response from that heavy defeat,” he said. “They are a better side than what they have shown at the Emirates. For me they are one of the best European sides.”
Surely the Ukrainian side cannot play as badly as they did in the first game? Wenger doesn’t seem to think so, but if they did, then it could be another walk in the park for the Gunners.
The emergence of Jack Wilshire this season has delighted Arsenal fans, but the man who is perhaps most pleased with the rapid progress of the 18-year old is the boss.
“I am very much surprised [by Wilshere's development],” said Wenger. “I didn’t expect that to happen so quickly. You have to be open-minded in our job and most of the time when it happens like that you are happy.”
Shakhtar managed to score a goal at the Emirates, which may come as a shock, but it was scored by a man who used to embrace the Arsenal fans before moving this summer, Eduardo Da Silva.
Every time his name is mentioned, minds cast back to the horrific injury he sustained in 2008 against Birmingham which saw him out of the game for a year. He came off the bench and scored a great goal a few weeks ago but didn’t celebrate, not that there was much to celebrate anyway.
It was quite a moment, as for a few minutes it seemed he had scored for the home side such was the reception he received. Eduardo said the goal was the proper way for him to sign off to the Arsenal fans, and felt the occasion was emotional.
“It was a bit strange, a bit too soon,” he said. “Three months ago I was still training there with the lads. I didn't expect it to be this soon, but at the same time to go back to where I played for three years was a great moment.”
Shakhtar manager Mircea Lucescu believes his side are a much stronger team than Arsenal. “It was enough to analyse the game as an expert, but not as a supporter,” he said. “Of course, the supporters are unhappy with the result. Somebody assesses that match as a big score and no more... And I do not think Arsenal is stronger than Shakhtar. We will try to prove it on the pitch.”
Lucescu was unhappy at the refereeing decisions his side were on the end of at the Emirates, including a soft penalty, in his eyes, awarded to Arsenal. “I hope there will be valid and neutral refereeing, which will help football in general. We will try to fulfil their responsibilities on the field,” he said. “The mistakes of the referee in favour of Arsenal were clearly visible.”
Regardless of the refereeing, the news that is surely more comforting for Shakhtar is that Arsenal will be without their skipper Cesc Fabrégas, who will not be risked because of his hamstring. The Spaniard was out for a month with the injury and was almost substituted last Saturday.
Prediction: Shakhtar Donetsk 1 Arsenal 2
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