Arsenal will be aiming to bounce back from their first defeat of the season at the weekend when they host Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Tuesday evening.
The Gunners fell to a disappointing 2-0 loss at Bournemouth as William Saliba was sent off in the first half – the third red card Arsenal have received in the Premier League this season. The result has left Mikel Arteta’s side three points off Manchester City, their title foes over the last two campaigns.
Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar also managed a goalless draw in their first league phase match of the season but fell to a hefty 3-0 defeat to Atalanta in their most recent European outing. A clash with Arsenal is followed by more favourable fixtures against Swiss side Young Boys and Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven.
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Shakhtar Donetsk are without a win in their previous nine UEFA competition matches against English teams in England (D2 L7).
Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 12 UEFA competition matches at home (W8 D4).
Bukayo Saka is a doubt heading into the clash with Shakhtar after missing the trip to the Vitality Stadium through injury. The winger hurt himself on international duty and missed the squad entirely on Saturday.
Jurrien Timber is also a doubt with a thigh problem and Martin Odegaard, Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu are all unavailable.
Shakhtar have very few injury concerns travelling to north London and their almost full-strength squad offers them the chance to make life difficult for the Gunners.
Georgiy Sudakov has been linked with a move to the Premier League in previous transfer windows, with Liverpool and Arsenal among the sides to have shown interest. Tuesday could be an audition for the young Ukrainian.
Artem Bondarenko is another youthful talent worth keeping an eye on, with the attacking midfielder having provided a combined six goals and assists in the Ukrainian top flight this term.
