Mikel Arteta explains Arsenal penalty decision as Kai Havertz denied club record

Leandro Trossard missed a late penalty during Arsenal's 1-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League but Kai Havertz could have broken a club record had he taken it and scored

Arsenal scrambled a cheeky win in the Champions League - but it came at a price and Mikel Arteta admitted: “We looked tired.”

Gabriel Martinelli’s winner, which went in off a post and Shakhtar keeper Dmytro Riznyk’s backside, brought a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘1-0 to the ARSEnal.’ But Leandro Trossard ’s poor penalty was later saved by Riznyk and Gunners fans were mystified that Kai Havertz was not given the chance to break the club record by scoring in eight consecutive home games.

Arsenal were then indebted to David Raya for a flying save in stoppage time to deny Pedrinho as the Gunners moved up to fourth in the expanded Champions League table. And with William Saliba already suspended, manager Arteta is facing a major defensive revamp ahead of Sunday’s big showdown with Liverpool after Riccardo Calafiori shuffled off injured after 70 minutes.

Arteta said: “Winning at home in this format is key and the first half we were very dominant - we created four big, big chances and we should have put the game to bed. “In the second half we looked tired and lacked our usual sharpness with and without the ball. We had chances again and missed a big penalty - that emotion was difficult to overcome and then we had to dig in.

“But overall it’s the Champions League, you take the win and the clean sheet… let’s move on.” Arteta’s anxiety on the touchline was exacerbated by Trossard’s dreadful spot-kick in the absence of injured skipper Martin Odegaard and England winger Bukayo Saka.

He revealed: “The players made that decision - the penalty takers are normally Bukayo or Martin - after that we have two or three players who can take them. Unfortunately it was an opportunity missed.” After Arsenal’s title challenge was undermined by three red cards in six games, Arteta hooked Ben White at the interval to make sure he did not join the procession of shame, but Calafiori’s withdrawal was an enforced change.

Arteta, who suffered his first defeat in 17 games at Bournemouth on Saturday, said: “It was my decision to take Ben out. “He was on a yellow card and we have played enough with 10 men in recent weeks so I didn’t want to take any chances.

“Riccardo felt something but I don’t know the extent of it so in that sense it’s not great news.” Arteta insists Arsenal will shrug off their fatigue and attack Premier League leaders Liverpool with all guns blazing on Sunday, saying: “We have four days to prepare - we are more than comfortable that we’ll be in the right place.

“Believe me, come Sunday we’ll be flying.” Martinelli tried to claim the winner but was relieved to come through a difficult night against football refugees from war-torn Ukraine who gave Arsenal a real scare.

The Brazilian winger said: “It doesn’t matter if it was mine or an own goal - the most important thing is the win and we are really happy. We’ve lost some players but we know our qualities and that it’s tough to play in the Champions League. We didn’t have a good result in the last game in the Premier League and we came here to win and we did just that.”

Shakhtar coach Marino Pusic revealed his players face an arduous 20-hour journey to get home, saying: “Tomorrow we fly back to Poland and then we drive on the bus to the train station and then take the night train, which is around 20 hours. It’s a tough one, but this is the way it is.”

“We like to give our people something to be proud of. You can see what passion they have for the country and the club. Oleksandr [Zinchenko] was our guest in the changing room at the end of the game. Great guy, we love him.”

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