Arsenal’s European hopes were never going to live or die by this result but they made heavy weather of three points that, nonetheless, move them a giant step towards prolonging their campaign beyond January. They had enough chances to put Shakhtar Donetsk away and then braced themselves for an awkward finale when Dmytro Riznyk saved Leandro Trossard’s 79th minute penalty.

It was ultimately Riznyk whose first-half own goal, of which he knew little, settled matters and Shakhtar remained admirably competitive throughout. Mikel Arteta will now sweat on the fitness of Riccardo Calafiori, who left the field in obvious discomfort 20 minutes from the end.