MJS: Awful, lacklustre, devoid of creativity. It just shows who are the creative geniuses in our team. Kai Havertz was excellent with zero service. A better team would have punished us.
Ugochukwu: Arsenal look worse than the previous season and have just been grinding out results. The beauty is fading fast. Hopefully, the returns of Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber and later, Martin Odegaard, will help improve performances and results. The red cards have not helped either.
Jay: A functional performance that lacked cutting edge. Can't dismiss a win in the Champions League but I'd like to see better end product in front of goal.
Craig: That was a drab performance - it's like we've lost our killer instinct. And substituting Ben White, as we are so ill-disciplined at the moment and scared we'll get another red card... it is a bit of a joke.
Ivor: Very poor. Yet again started well but unable to make it count. I think we will rue not signing a striker.
Jim: Terrible performance. Why does Mikel Arteta think Gabriel Jesus is the answer still? Look at his record - he’s not good enough. He should have played Ethan Nwaneri. It was a perfect game for him.
The 'cost' of Europe as Calafiori adds to injury concernspublished at 08:22 23 October
08:22 23 October
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Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton says Arsenal are showing they can fight on two fronts but he questions the "cost" of that with Riccardo Calafiori the latest player to pick up an injury.
Reflecting on the narrow victory over Shakhtar Donetsk, Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast: "Going into this game it was all about responding to the loss at Bournemouth but the missed chances will be really frustrating for Mikel Arteta.
"Gabriel Jesus does so many good things within the game but his finishing has let him down for a number of seasons now.
"But it is still a really positive result. They have had a good start to their Champions League campaign, but I suppose the question is at what cost?
"Calafiori had that awkward fall and Arteta decided to bring him off. He will be a massive miss and with William Saliba suspended, that will be a worry going into the game at the weekend.
"It is such an intense period and they are missing key players in different parts of the pitch."
Meanwhile, Gunners Under-18s coach Jack Wilshere, 32, will join Norwich as first-team coach this week after the two clubs agreed a compensation fee for the former midfielder. (Standard), external
'Holes in that performance'published at 23:47 22 October
23:47 22 October
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Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live after Arsenal's win: "It's such an intense period.
"Injuries puts pressure on the squad. Arsenal are missing key players such as Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard.
"It was the way Riccardo Calafiori fell. When he went down again, you think there's something there. It is so unfortunate as he's been brilliant since he came to Arsenal. He can play in the midfield role, he has the awareness for that.
"Calafiori will be a massive loss at the weekend. Arsenal need to find a way of muddling their way through.
"Tonight it is job done. There will be disappointment as Mikel Arteta would have liked things easier, but this is top level Champions League football.
"Arsenal are still a force."
Ex-Gunners defender Matthew Upson added: "It's the Champions League. You win at home and keep a clean sheet, it's a positive result.
"Arsenal would've wanted to go clearer than that 1-0 lead and whenever you miss that amount of chances, the opposition gains momentum. But David Raya and defence answered the questions and stayed really solid.
"But that's gonna wear thin eventually. Arsenal fans will be thinking their team will need to step it up to keep up with Liverpool and Manchester City.
"There were holes in that performance and quite a lot of questions they'll have to answer."
'We dug in for three points'published at 23:00 22 October
23:00 22 October
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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta speaking to TNT Sports: "Very pleased with the result. Always difficult in the Champions League.
"We should've scored more in first half and the second half I felt a bit of fatigue. Playing 60 minutes with 10 men a few days ago is difficult. We left the game a bit open but we dug in for three points."
On penalty miss: "I don't know if that was related to fatigue. Credit to Shakhtar, they are brave. When you give them time on the ball and you lose the ball you will suffer. I don't know [why Kai Havertz didn't take the penalty]. He is one of the takers but Leo took it."
On Gabriel Martinelli: "He was really good. Looked really sharp tonight. You could see he was fresh after not starting at the weekend."
On David Raya: "We haven't conceded much but we need him in those moments. Really confident, connected with the team and in great shape."
On other injuries: "[Bukayo] Saka not training yet so he won't be available and Ricci [Calafiori] felt something and could not stay on. Bit of a worry."
'Most important thing is to win'published at 22:42 22 October
22:42 22 October
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Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli speaking to TNT Sports: "Most important thing is to win. We knew how tough they are and we came here to win the game and we did it.
"We wanted to score more but we won the game and that's the most important thing."
On Trossard penalty miss: "He could have scored but we are behind him, supporting him. We know his quality and we go again. I'm sure he's going to play well in the next game."
On the goal: "It was my goal! It doesn't matter if it was mine or an own goal, the most important thing is the win and we are really happy.
On bouncing back: "Tricky. 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."
On Raya's save: "We are lucky to have him here. Really happy for him to get that save."
Did you know?published at 22:36 22 October
22:36 22 October
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Arsenal have missed four of their past eight penalties in the Champions League, having scored 11 of their previous 12 from the spot beforehand.
Arsenal 1-0 Shakhtar Donetsk - send us your thoughtspublished at 21:55 22 October
Time Arsenal stopped seeing red?published at 16:30 22 October
16:30 22 October
Pat Nevin Former footballer and presenter
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Arsenal’s red card problem is already seriously affecting their season. I am not convinced they are suddenly a ‘dirty’ or violent team, even if they are on a run of more reds than anyone else in the Premier League. They have accumulated 18 in the past five years compared with their nearest challengers who are way back on 13!
I reckon it is simply a result of them being more ruthless, more physical and a tad more ‘worldly’ than they used to be. You do not train players to be more cynical or professional - choose your own description here - you just buy players who are more inclined that way. Players that will do whatever is needed to win.
This season Declan Rice was unlucky against Brighton, Leandro Trossard was trying and ultimately failing to be canny at Manchester City pretending he wasn’t kicking the ball away and William Saliba was simply determined to stop Evanilson by whatever means necessary at Bournemouth.
The outcome is seven points dropped in games after players seeing red. Yes they have to be committed and streetwise but any more defeats because of a player sent to the showers early will not be clever.
'An ugly loss' - but don't overreactpublished at 12:28 22 October
12:28 22 October
Laura Kirk-Francis Fan writer
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On and off the pitch, nobody does a meltdown quite like Arsenal.
Taking samples from both the mainstream and social media, Arsenal are apparently no longer title contenders, and Mikel Arteta's job is looking a little less secure.
This is an overreaction.
There is no doubt that Saturday was a vintage meltdown from the Gunners, for whom when it rains, it does seem to pour. Even with 11 men on the pitch, the side looked stunted and hesitant.
Following William Saliba's sending off, it descended into the type of self-destruction mode more reminiscent of the end of Arsene Wenger's era at the club.
Yes, this was an ugly loss, for which Arsenal really only have themselves to blame, but perhaps a more measured take on this would be to remember that the team had not lost a Premier League game for six months. They have been remarkably consistent. Three red cards by the end of October is not befitting of champions, but it is still only October.
What is intriguing about this reaction to Arsenal's loss is how the context of the past few games has also changed.
Just a few weeks ago, the Gunners were praised for grinding out ugly wins against Leicester and Southampton. Fast forward to this week, and those wins are now being viewed in a different way - Arsenal got away with it, and the results have hidden a deeper underlying issue with the team.
In a world where Manchester City are close to a year unbeaten, teams cannot afford an off day. But that does not mean it will not happen, nor that an off day should be conflated to the season being over.
Arsenal will want to put the Bournemouth defeat behind them, but this type of failure is definitely not fatal.
Are Arsenal set for record red-card haul?published at 09:46 22 October
09:46 22 October
Nat Hayward BBC Sport journalist
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William Saliba's straight red for hauling back Bournemouth's Evanlison when clean through on goal means Arsenal have had three players sent off in the opening eight matches of a season for the first time since 2011-12
It follows Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard being dismissed for second bookable offences against Brighton and Manchester City respectively. All three have come in the games the Gunners have not won.
The three red cards are already more than the two Mikel Arteta's side were given across both 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons combined.
Arsenal's most in a complete Premier League season was in 1998-99, when they received seven across their 38 games.
That is not the Premier League record though - the dubious honour of most red cards in a season is nine shared by 2011-12 QPR and 2009-10 Sunderland.
Of course, it is early days but on current pace Arsenal would not only shatter their personal record but also take the overall competition by being handed 14 red cards.
Despite the flurry to start the season, the Gunners' three red cards through eight games are not a Premier League record. Both Liverpool in 2023-24 and Leicester in 1994-95 were shown four inside their opening eight games of the campaign.
There have also been 19 other instances of a team being shown three red cards in their opening eight matches of a Premier League season - including Wolves in 2023-24.
Did title race 'pressure' contribute to Saliba's red card?published at 09:46 22 October
09:46 22 October
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The panel on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club discussed William Saliba's red card in Saturday's defeat at Bournemouth.
New York Times journalist Rory Smith: "It was a momentary lapse, but I do wonder to what extent being in a title race with Manchester City for Arsenal - who are now going into their third year of being in a title race with City - creates a sort of psychological pressure that you can't drop points at all. It maybe makes mistakes like that and more panicky moments more likely, because everything seems so intensely pressurised.
"You know what Man City's season looks like, you know at some point they're going to win 15 in a row.
"That means if you're 0-0 against Bournemouth after half an hour - and it's a difficult game because Bournemouth are pretty good - when you suddenly realise Leandro Trossard has played a terrible pass and this player is running past you, maybe you are slightly more likely to stick an arm out and think 'he can't score', rather than even allowing him to get a shot off and hope David Raya saves it."
Ex-Luton winger Andros Townsend: "I think if we're talking at the turn of the year, when City always turn the screw and seem to win 15 on the spin, I'd agree with Rory.
"But at this stage of the season, I don't think Man City are playing a part in the minds of Arsenal."
Gossip: Gunners keen on Mbeumopublished at 07:29 22 October
07:29 22 October
Arsenal are plotting a move for Brentford's 25-year-old Cameroon forward Bryan Mbeumo after his impressive start to the season. (Football Insider), external
'We're like a basketball team now' - Merinopublished at 16:51 21 October
16:51 21 October
Alex Howell BBC Sport football news reporter
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Arsenal summer signing Mikel Merino has had a mixed time since signing for the club in a deal that could reach £31.6m but says he is on his way to getting back to his best.
The central midfielder, who got injured in his first training session and missed six games for the Gunners with a shoulder injury, was signed for his physicality, his ability to win duels on the pitch and his experience of winning trophies.
Mikel Arteta has been building a physically imposing team as he looks to compete with Manchester City for the Premier League title and Merino himself has been shocked by the size of his team-mates.
"Yeah, sometimes it is crazy," Merino said.
"I am in the corridors or the training ground just walking, and back at my old club I used to be one of the tallest so everyone was smaller than me and now I look around and everyone is taller than me.
"We look like a basketball team now.
"Football now has changed and now you need a strong team, physicality is key, we need to be the most complete team possible.
"You need the physical aspect, technical aspect, the tactical one, you need to be a total team to achieve big things as we do. It is not only about being tall and big, you need mentality.
"If you are tall and big but don’t go with the 100 per cent intention to win the ball, it's just nothing. The main thing is the mentality and we have that."
'There may just be a little more fluctuation this season'published at 15:23 21 October
15:23 21 October
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An Arsenal-related question was put to BBC chief football writer Phil McNulty in Monday's Q&A.
Dan asked: Phil, how much of a blow do you think Arsenal's loss to Bournemouth will be for them in the title race? Four points off the top already isn't exactly a good place to be, especially losing Saliba for a few games as well. I'm of the opinion that it's still early days and Manchester City and Liverpool are bound to drop points along the way.
Phil: Hi, Dan. A blow, of course, and we know how tight the margins are in the Premier League title race these days, but we are still very early on in the season and I agree with you, there may just be a little more fluctuation this season.
William Saliba’s suspension for the Liverpool game is a real blow but Arsenal are at Emirates Stadium, still have plenty of quality, and this presents a great chance to bounce right back against a team that is clearly going to be one of their main title rivals.
Merino wants to 'speed up' improvementpublished at 13:53 21 October
13:53 21 October
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Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino says he is receiving a lot of help from the club as he recovers from his shoulder injury and builds his minutes up for the Gunners.
The Spain international, who signed from Real Sociedad in the summer, missed the opening two months of the season after injuring his shoulder during his first training session with the club.
"It was difficult at the beginning as nobody wants to get injured in the first session," Merino said. "When you come here you want to make an impact, you want to prove why they signed you and start building up that confidence and relationship with your team-mates.
"After the injury everybody helped me so much, not only the players but also the staff, the fans as well - I felt the love immediately. That helped me to recover as fast as possible and to build that relationship with the whole team. I feel like right now I’m at a good stage, not at the best one but I’ll get there."
On when fans will get to see that 'best' version of himself, Merino added: "You never know but hopefully soon.
"I still have some things to do at a physical level, at a technical level and at a tactical level as there’s a lot of things different to my old club. It's a process and I'm doing the best I can to speed it up.
"All the staff and the whole club is helping me a lot and hopefully it will be soon."
Image source, Getty Images
