The former forward of «Shakhtar» and the Ukraine national team Andriy Vorobey commented on the victory of London’s «Arsenal» over Donetsk in the Champions League match (1:0).
Andriy Vorobey (photo: instagram.com)— Andriy, what are your impressions of the match «Arsenal»— «Shakhtar» (1:0)? How do you assess the Donetsk team’s play moving forward? Has that aggression you spoke about earlier appeared?
— In general, I would say this: the game we saw yesterday shows that, unfortunately, the level of the Ukrainian championship is such at the moment. We can’t jump higher than our heads right now. I wouldn’t say that the performance in the match against «Arsenal» improved or that the «miners» played differently. No! Most likely, «Arsenal» played without such excitement. The Londoners probably saved their strength before the EPL match with «Liverpool» on October 27. The first 10 minutes were, of course, very difficult. Then «Shakhtar» more or less leveled the game. But then we conceded an unfortunate goal. In fact, we didn’t earn a draw. Yes, they say there were chances at the end of the match. But «Arsenal» could have scored earlier. So we were lucky to lose by a minimal score.
— And what can you say about «Shakhtar’s» play moving forward? Ehinhaldo was very active at the beginning of the match.
— It seems to me that «Shakhtar» started playing after the saved penalty from Riznyk. Maybe that episode inspired the Donetsk team! Or maybe «Arsenal» stopped playing, shocked by the failure to convert the penalty. After the «Gunners» missed the penalty, «Shakhtar» added. It was clear that the Donetsk team started to play quickly, running forward without looking back. «Shakhtar» began to show what we expect from them from the first minutes. The question is different: maybe somewhere «Arsenal» faded. And I would note that the legionnaire guys who came on as substitutes added effectiveness to «Shakhtar’s» game in the last 15-20 minutes. The Donetsk team added after that.
— There was especially a great shot from Pedrinho in extra time.
— Yes, there was a moment for Pedrinho! In that episode, they had a good chance to score, but the goalkeeper made a brilliant save. But still, I would say that in this match we did not earn a draw. Probably, the victory of «Arsenal» is justified. At this stage, we are not ready to play against such teams. What will happen next, I don’t know. It’s hard to say. This is the level of our championship, unfortunately. We have had one shot on target from Pedrinho in three matches, not counting Sudakov’s penalty in the match against «Bologna». This is the level of our football right now.
— Dmytro Riznyk saved a penalty in the match against «Arsenal», just like Yuriy Virt did in 2000 for «miners» in the match against the «Gunners» at «Highbury». Is the Ukrainian goalkeeper showing good play?
— There are no questions regarding Riznyk. He is not at fault for the conceded goal. Such a conceded goal is a matter of chance, it happens in football. And he saved the penalty, generally played confidently! He handled the shot from Martinelli. Riznyk saved «Shakhtar», so there are no questions about him. In principle, there are no questions regarding the defense’s play in general. They played well, but conceded. But it seems to me that «Arsenal» played at half-strength against our team. And «Shakhtar», I repeat, started playing after the saved penalty.
— Riznyk is showing more and more confidence in goal from match to match. Is his progress visible?
— Confidence is evident in his actions. To reach the level of Trubin, of course, he still has work to do, but in the last matches Riznyk has helped «Shakhtar» a lot. It’s evident that his game has some confidence!
— But before the match with «Shakhtar», «Arsenal» lost 0:2 to «Bournemouth». Maybe the Londoners are experiencing some small crisis?
— «Arsenal» has its problems. In this match against «Shakhtar», their leaders Odegaard and Saka did not play. The «Gunners» have their own kitchen, and «Shakhtar» has theirs. But «Arsenal» won and took three points. And «Shakhtar» can credit the last 15 minutes as a positive. The Donetsk team played during that time with zest and determination, they rushed forward. We want to see «Shakhtar» like this! This is the only positive takeaway for «Shakhtar» from this match.
