Riznyk's unfortunate own goal gives Arsenal an unremarkable victory over Shakhtar Donetsk | Champions League

As this new, sprawling Champions League format entered its winding middle phase, it was tempting to wonder what exactly was at stake for Arsenal. They didn't exactly fix anyone with a boring, reserved performance, but the evening brought what they came for.

Although their European hopes would neither live nor die by this result, Arsenal have taken a big step towards continuing their season beyond January.

Win the next two or three and perhaps Mikel Arteta might be tempted to rest some of his side's more tired legs before the end of the league phase. That could be enough, considering that Riccardo Calafiori left the pitch clearly distressed with 20 minutes to go.

Arsenal could do without further injuries to key players and if Calafiori is forced to miss Sunday's game against Liverpool, his manager could curse such an inconsequential midweek appearance.

This is a commentary on the competition itself, not on Arsenal's opponents. Shakhtar Donetsk were in trouble at times in the first half and could have been further behind than the only unfortunate own goal attributed to their goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk.

They are undoubtedly formidable contenders at this level, a perennial wonder given the horrors unfolding at home, and they have held on long enough to have a real taste of glory at the end. Riznyk's save from Leandro Trossard's penalty added some tension to the final and his opponent, David Raya, had to make sure the picture didn't change.

Arteta subsequently noticed signs of fatigue among his players, which would explain a performance at two different speeds. Arsenal, as usual, set off quickly, presumably keen to secure a quieter second half. For Shakhtar, there was always a risk that, even with Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka still missing, the game could be ruined if the hosts stepped up their game.

Calafiori wasted a great early chance, leaning back and firing over from eight yards after Trossard's corner fell at his feet, and at that point Shakhtar was just about weathering a storm. But they calmed down enough to silence the already semi-engaged crowd. The biggest noise came from a 3,000-strong away contingent, skipping in the autumn air and chanting support for the Ukrainian army, who appeared to have already gained a foothold before the decisive goal.

The result was luck but also reward for Gabriel Martinelli, who was easily Arsenal's liveliest player and is showing signs of returning to his irrepressible best. The Brazilian received a pass from Declan Rice on his left and, with a characteristic ruck inside right-back Yukhym Konoplia, his stretched shot hit the base of the near post. It bounced off the unsuspecting Riznyk and curled in, breathing new life into a game that had stalled.

Riznyk went about the rest of the evening as if to make everything clear. He managed to clear sharply from Kai Havertz as Arsenal looked for a quick second and then, just before half-time, cleverly parried from Gabriel Jesus. There was also reason to thank Mykola Matviyenko, his central defender, for his miraculous intervention that prevented Havertz from converting almost on the line.

The biggest mystery for Arteta, based on the first 45 minutes, lay in the form of Ben White. White had to recover early after left winger Eguinaldo picked his pocket and was later shown a yellow card. “We played enough with 10 men,” Arteta remarked afterwards, referring to the flood of red cards domestically, so White was spared the rest and Mikel Merino came onto the scene.

Trossard looked beyond the far post but, apart from an initial effort from Martinelli that Riznyk saved, Arsenal's creative powers dried up after reemerging. Shakhtar, who had no chance to build despite having the chance to build, got a presentable opening from a sloppy pass from Trossard, which required a potentially goal-saving block from Eguinaldo's Gabriel.

They were still in the game and Arsenal were already looking nervous, at least to the extent they were capable of doing so on this occasion, when Calafiori stopped and was pulled back after an unsuccessful attempt to brush the issue aside.

Shortly afterwards, following a VAR review, Valeriy Bondar was accused of blocking Merino's cross with his outstretched arm. Trossard was tasked with making sure of that, but Riznyk got the comeuppance he deserved by using his back leg to save a poor penalty aimed down the middle.

Now Shakhtar were clearly full of options and their explorations ultimately resulted in a very narrow result in stoppage time. Pedrinho thought he had caught Raya from distance but was thwarted by a full stop that spared Arsenal any material agony.

Shakhtar, whose 20-hour journey back to Kiev for the weekend derby with Dynamo highlights the extraordinary lengths they go to to play, could be proud. For Arsenal, this was another step on the treadmill to tick off.