Frank Christian
Arsenal aims to move past their recent domestic setback as they prepare to face Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Champions League at the Emirates Stadium.
During their last match against Bournemouth, William Saliba received a red card, marking the third instance this season where Arsenal has finished a match with only ten players. Bournemouth ended up winning 2-0.
Both Arsenal and Shakhtar have faced Atalanta in this season’s league phase—with Mikel Arteta’s team managing a goalless draw, while Atalanta secured a convincing 3-0 victory over the Ukrainian side.
Shakhtar, under Marino Pusic, has had a good run in the Ukrainian Premier League since then, but Arsenal’s injury challenges present a tough test ahead.
The Sporting News provides an update on team news and expected lineups for this matchup.
Lineups for Arsenal vs. Shakhtar Donetsk
Bukayo Saka was missed in the game against Bournemouth and is doubtful for this upcoming fixture after missing training on Monday.
Arteta will assess Saka’s fitness for the Shakhtar match, particularly since captain Martin Odegaard is out due to an ankle injury.
Expect shifts in the midfield as Thomas Partey, Mikel Merino, and Declan Rice struggled to create chances over the weekend.
William Saliba is set to return for this match, as his domestic suspension is applicable for the upcoming game against Liverpool.
Gabriel Jesus is poised to lead the attack, having scored a hat-trick against Shakhtar in the past, giving him a total of four goals against this team.
Project Arsenal lineup (4-3-3): Raya (GK) — White, Gabriel, Saliba, Calafiori — Havertz, Jorginho, Rice — Saka, Jesus, Sterling
Injury List: Odegaard (ankle), Tierney (hamstring), Tomiyasu (knee), Timber (undisclosed)
Suspension Status: No players suspended
Shakhtar’s only confirmed injury concern is backup goalkeeper Tymur Puzankov, who is recovering from knee surgery.
All attention will be focused on their key playmaker Georgiy Sudakov, who has drawn interest from Arsenal and other top European teams.
Pusic faces a choice in the striking department between Danylo Sikan and Eguinaldo, with Sikan currently in good form.
Projected Shakhtar lineup (4-1-4-1): Riznyk (GK) — Konoplya, Bondar, Matvienko, Henrique — Stepanenko — Zubkov, Bondarenko, Sudakov, Newertton — Sikan
Injury List: Puzankov (knee)
Suspension Status: No players suspended
Viewing Options for Arsenal vs. Shakhtar Donetsk
Details on how to watch this Champions League match across various regions:
| Region | TV Channel | Streaming Options |
| USA | — | Paramount+, ViX |
| Canada | — | DAZN |
| UK | — | Amazon Prime Video |
| Australia | — | Stan Sport |
| India | — | Sony LIV, JioTV |
