Riznyk saves from spot but own goal gifts Arsenal win

Arsenal's European hopes were never going to live or die by this result but they made heavy weather of three points that, nonetheless, move them a giant step towards prolonging their campaign beyond January. They had enough chances to put Shakhtar Donetsk away and then braced themselves for an awkward finale when Dmytro Riznyk saved Leandro Trossard's 79th-minute penalty.

- Nick Ames

It was ultimately Riznyk whose first-half own goal, of which he knew little, settled matters and Shakhtar remained admirably competitive throughout. Mikel Arteta will now sweat on the fitness of Riccardo Calafiori, who left the field in obvious discomfort 20 minutes from the end.

As this new, distended Champions League format enters its meandering middle phase it was tempting to wonder exactly what was at stake for Arsenal.

Arteta had barely been asked about the game itself in his pre-match press conference; they have plenty of time left to sail safely from the 36-team group. But he had been grilled on the ramifications of Saturday's controversial defeat to Bournemouth and perhaps that is where the motivation lay: to reset a little before the altogether more consequential visit of Liverpool this Sunday.

Shakhtar's visit at least presented a story of real-world significance. Their consistency of performance at this level is a marvel, the way they have simultaneously assumed the role of international ambassador for their country since its horrifying invasion by Russia an inspiration.

Any kind of result here would constitute a triumph and they were cheered by 3,000 supporters in an away end peppered with Ukrainian flags.