Arsenal slip up in Ukraine

Arsenal's 100% record in this seasons Champions League has now come to an end after the Gunners lost 2-1 against Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine last Wednesday. Walcott gave the Gunners the early lead but the Ukrainian side fought back with an own goal courtesy of Eastmond and former Arsenal striker Eduardo. Arsenal played a weakened side mainly because of injury. If Arsenal had won on the night they would have been garanteed a place in the knock out phase. Arsenal should still be able to confirm their place as long as they beat Braga and Partizan Belgrade. The Ukranian side are now level on points with Arsenal and remain unbeaten at their new stadium ''Donbass Arena''.

Shakhtar Donetsk got an early chance from a free kick. Srna took the free kick from outside the box but Fabianski got down well to his left hand side and kept the shot out easily.

Arsenal then got their first chance of the game when Nasri managed to work a shot from outside the box but he saw his effort hit the post and go out for a goal kick.

Then on 10 minutes Arsenal broke the deadlock when a Shakhtar corner was cleared out to Walcott who ran the ball down the wing and then buried his shot from outside the box beyond Pyatov in the Donetsk goal.

The Ukranian side then started to pressure Arsenal and Jadson hit the post after a cross was delivered from the left. They then got a corner and the ball bounced to Chygrynskiy who hit a shot towards goal but Fabianski kept the shot out brilliantly.

Then finally Shakhtar got the equaliser and the goal they deserved when Jadson delivered a free kick from the left hand side. Chygrynskiy got his head to the ball but it then hit Eastmond and flashed past Fabianski into his own net.

It then went from bad to worse as Shakhtar then took the lead after Srna disposed Clichy on the left flank and then delivered the ball into Eduardo who slotted the ball into the back of the net for his second goal of the competition.

The score at half time was 2-1 to Shakhtar Donetsk.

Jack Wilshere got the first chance of the second half when the ball bounced to him inside the area but put his shot wide when he should have scored.
Arsenal had started the second half lively and Walcott got a good chance to grab the equaliser aswell but his shot was tame and Pyatov kept him out.

Shakhtar then had a strong claim for a penalty waved away rightly when Jadson looked to have stumbled under the challenge of Squillaci but there was hardly any contact.

Arsenal were now playing better than in the first half and applying the pressure well when a long ball was sent forward. Squillaci should have scored from a free header to make the score 2-2 but the header was straight at the goalkeeper.
Walcott was having his own head to head battle with Pyatov in the Shakhtar goal and Walcott managed to work another effort but Pyatov kept the shot out comfortably.

Theo Walcott then managed to fire another shot towards goal, this time from outside the area but Pyatov kept the in form stiker out once again.
Arsenal were fashioning chances left, right and centre and Vela now had a chance to grab the equaliser but again the shot was poor and Shakhtar remained in front.

Shakhtar then had a rare chance in the second half late on to kill the game off but Fabianski kept Moreno's shot from adding a 3rd.

The final score ended Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 Arsenal.

The teams lineups:

Shakhtar Donetsk: Pyatov, Hubschman, Gai(61), Rat, Chygrynskiy, Srna, Jadson(74), Willian, Rakitskiy, Adriano(87), Eduardo.
Subs: Khudzhamov, Kucher, Kobin, Stepanenko, Costa(74), Teixeira(61), Moreno(87).

Arsenal: Fabianski, Eboue, Djourou, Squillaci, Clichy, Rosicky, Walcott(81), Wilshere, Eastmond(58), Bendtner(73).
Subs: Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Vela(58), Chamakh(73), Emmanuel-Thomas(81), Lansbury.

My man of the match: Theo Walcott

Referee: Massimo Busacca (SUI)
Attendance: 48,765