Mikel Arteta and Arsenal bounced back from last weekend’s defeat as they secured a second successive win in the Champions League season on Tuesday night.
The Gunners beat Ukraine side Shakhtar Donetsk to move up to seven points in the new league format. Arsenal have listened to Mikel Arteta’s words after the Bournemouth game and focused on bouncing back.
Bournemouth beat Arsenal 2-0 last Saturday at the Vitality stadium to end their unbeaten streak this season.
The win over Shakhtar was a hard fought one, and could have easily ended in a draw. The Ukrainian side mounted a lot of pressure in the last 20 minutes of the game. Shakhtar boss Marino Pusic even claimed his side could have won on the night.
Mikel Arteta speaks on Arsenal’s penalty taker
Champions League 2024/25 Arsenal v FC Shakhtar Donetsk Champions League 2024/25 Arsenal v FC Shakhtar Donetsk Emirates Stadium. Leandro Trossard of Arsenal misses a penalty. 22.10.2024 PUBLICATIONxINxGERxAUTxSUIxONLY Copyright: xMarcxAsplandx NINTCHDBPICT000942958562
Late in the second half on Tuesday night, Arsenal were awarded a penalty. And Leandro Trossard stepped up to take it despite Kai Havertz being on the pitch.
Unfortunately for Arsenal, the Belgian missed the spot kick which made the ending to the game even more nervy.
After the game, Mikel Arteta spoke on the order of penalty takers at the club this season:
“Yes, they made that decision, the penalty taker normally is Bukayo or Martin and after that we have two or three players who can take it, they made the decision and unfortunately Leo missed it, but as you said it’s an opportunity missed.”
The Arsenal boss says he left the decision to the players, which was strange because Havertz could have passed Thiery Henry’s record for scoring in successive home games.
Early Champions League qualification is important
Arsenal have seven points from three games and are in the qualifying bracket. Mikel Arteta has urged his team to win the next round of games to qualify early:
“That would be great but at the moment very difficult to look at the table because tomorrow it will change and the amount of games and different opponents that we playing, but Champions League, a win, a win at home, in this format especially is key keeping the clean sheet but as you said the amount of injuries we are dealing, the situation we are dealing, happy and let’s move on.”
