The UEFA Champions League is back in action with another round of matches this week as Shakhtar Donetsk take on Mikel Arteta's Arsenal side in a crucial encounter at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday. Arsenal have grown in stature over the past year and hold the upper hand going into this game.
Arsenal vs Shakhtar Donetsk Preview
Shakhtar Donetsk are in 27th place in the UEFA Champions League table and are yet to win a game in the competition this season. The Ukrainian outfit edged Kolos to a narrow 1-0 victory over the weekend and will need to take it up a notch in this fixture.
Arsenal, on the other hand, are in 13th place in the Champions League standings and have been fairly impressive this season. The Gunners slumped to a damaging 2-0 defeat at the hands of Bournemouth in their previous game and will need to bounce back this week.
Arsenal vs Shakhtar Donetsk Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- Arsenal and Shakhtar Donetsk are on an even footing as far as the head-to-head record is concerned and have won two games apiece out of the four matches played between the two teams in the UEFA Champions League.
- All the four matches played between Arsenal and Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Champions League have produced a victory for the home side, with the most recent such encounter taking place at the Emirates Stadium in 2010 and ending in a 5-1 victory for the Gunners.
- Shakhtar Donetsk are winless in their last seven matches away from home against English opponents in the UEFA Champions League, with each of these games taking place in the group stage.
Arsenal vs Shakhtar Donetsk Prediction
Arsenal were severely hampered by their early red card against Bournemouth and cannot afford another debacle on Tuesday. With Bukayo Saka unlikely to start this game, other stars such as Raheem Sterling and Leandro Trossard will need to step up and shoulder the creative burden for their side.
Shakhtar Donetsk have pulled off massive European upsets in the past but will likely be overpowered by the Gunners this week. Arsenal are the better team on paper and have a point to prove going into this game.
Prediction: Arsenal 3-1 Shakhtar Donetsk
Arsenal vs Shakhtar Donetsk Betting Tips
Tip 1: Result - Arsenal to win
Tip 2: Game to have over 2.5 goals - Yes
Tip 3: Arsenal to score first - Yes
Tip 4: Leandro Trossard to score - Yes