This was hardly the emphatic response to defeat Mikel Arteta would have envisaged.
Job done — but that’s as much as can be said, really. Dmytro Riznyk’s first-half own goal was enough to ensure Arsenal returned to winning ways after their surprise loss at Bournemouth.
But it should have been far more comfortable than this, particularly when you consider Leandro Trossard’s missed penalty.
Arteta will argue that a win is a win. He is right, of course.
Arsenal are firmly on track for qualification to the Champions League knockout stages thanks to this victory over Shakhtar Donetsk. Yet the manner of it will have done little to inspire fear on Merseyside ahead of Sunday’s clash against Liverpool.
Gabriel Martinelli's low effort helped Arsenal take a 1-0 lead against Shakhtar Donetsk
The shot hit the upright before bouncing back into the net off goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk
Arsenal earned the victory to secure an immediate response to the loss against Bournemouth
Arsenal were wasteful. they created enough opportunities to win two matches here.
Arteta may view that as a positive. But they won’t have the same luxury against Virgil van Dijk and Co at the weekend.
Arsenal’s start was rapid. Gabriel Martinelli tore down the left. Gabriel Jesus — captain for the night — was bolting down the right. Shakhtar clung on for dear life.
Riccardo Calafiori should have opened the scoring inside eight minutes from Trossard’s inswinging corner but wildly blazed over, under pressure Yukhym Konoplia.
Trossard squandered a couple more opportunities before Calafiori forced Riznyk into a comfortable save as Arsenal sought the breakthrough.
The start may have encouraged Arteta after his side’s disappointment by the seaside, though Shakhtar did settle — Eguinaldo and Georgiy Sudakov catching the eye for the Ukrainians.
Eventually the Gunners took the lead their dominance warranted, though there was a touch of fortune about their opener.
Martinelli had caused right back Konoplia problems all night with his pace and directness, and in the 29th minute the pressure told.
Arsenal were awarded a penalty with Valeriy Bondar adjudged to have handled a cross
Leandro Trossard stepped up from the spot with the chance to double Arsenal's lead
Trossard's effort was kept out by the diving Riznyk who gave Shakhtar hope of a fightback
Arsenal boss Miekl Arteta would have been frustrated by his side's wastefulness in front of goal
The Brazilian tormented his victim once again, cutting inside the defender before firing a low shot that cannoned off the post before rebounding back off the unknowing Riznyk and rolling over the line.
The manner of the goal was luckless from a Shakhtar point of view. But they could have no complaints — even their most ardent supporter would concede Arsenal deserved their lead.
Mykola Matviyenko produced a brilliant clearance from deep inside his own six-yard box to deny Kai Havertz a certain goal after good work from Jesus, who missed a glorious chance of his own in the dying embers of the first half.
Indeed, the only letdown for Arteta as the half-time whistle blew was that Arsenal weren’t home and hosed.
The ideal scenario for Arteta, ahead of Sunday’s huge visit of Premier League leaders Liverpool, was to rest a clutch of his first-team players.
With that in mind, Ben White was taken off at the break for midfielder Mikel Merino in a move that saw Thomas Partey switch to right back.
Arsenal picked up where they left off, Trossard wasteful again — nodding a free header from Martinelli’s cross behind the far post in the opening two minutes of the second half.
You couldn’t help but wonder if all of these missed chances would come back to bite Arsenal, though their control of the game at this juncture appeared to make such a twist nigh on impossible.
Arsenal were dealt a blow after Calafiori required lengthy treatment on a knee injury
The defender was forced to limp off the field to add to concerns ahead of a trip to Anfield
David Raya was called into action in the closing stages as Arsenal held on to their narrow lead
Arteta will now turn his attentions to Arsenal's crucial clash against Liverpool on Sunday
Riznyk denied Martinelli in the 53rd minute before Trossard fired an effort narrowly wide just moments later.
Every indication was that Arsenal’s second was in the offing — but Eguinaldo firing straight at Gabriel Magalhaes with the goal to aim at following Trossard’s poor back pass served as a warning. And all of a sudden you sensed tension in the air. A comfortable night had become jittery.
Shakhtar, out of nowhere, had found some rhythm. Arsenal appeared anxious. The groans and gasps from the home crowd were audible.
To add to the anxieties, Calafiori required lengthy treatment on a knee injury following a tangle with Eguinaldo, before limping off.
Arsenal were gifted a golden opportunity to ease tensions thanks to what looked a soft VAR call — Valeriy Bondar, under pressure from Trossard, was adjudged to have handled in the box. The Belgian stepped up only to see his effort saved by Riznyk.
Shakhtar, buoyed by their goalkeeper’s heroics, threw everything at Arsenal, who were frantically clearing their lines.
Raya produced a brilliant save from Kevin’s thunderbolt from distance in stoppage time as Arsenal held on. Just.