Arsenal have faced Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk on several occasions in the Champions League, with mixed results.
Arsenal have had a strained relationship with Shakhtar in recent years after the failed transfer of Mykhaylo Mudryk in January 2023, but there is history between the two sides.
Several players have been at both Shakhtar and Arsenal in their careers, including Oleksandr Zinchenko, who made a controversial exit after coming through their youth system.
One of the other players who appeared for both clubs was striker Eduardo Da Silva, who was so popular during his time at Arsenal, that fans actually celebrated when he scored against them.
Eduardo’s rise and fall at Arsenal
Eduardo joined Arsenal in 2007 and was an instant hit, with his deadly finishing ability making him a cult hero at the Emirates Stadium.
However, with Arsene Wenger’s side embarking on a title challenge, Eduardo suffered a devastating injury away at Birmingham City, leaving with a broken leg that kept him out for over a year.
Arsenal’s title challenge fell apart, and Eduardo’s form was never the same again. He eventually returned to action in February 2009 but fell down the pecking order as Robin van Persie cemented his place as the starting striker.
Eduardo then joined Shakhtar in the summer of 2010, but at the time of his exit, he admitted he would not want to face Arsenal in Europe.
“I think this transfer is good for me, as I need to play. “I’m happy to play in the Champions League, but I don’t want to play against Arsenal,” Eduardo told Sky Sports.
“It was difficult for me to leave Arsenal, where I spent three years, the fans loved me and I loved them. Everyone at the club has been great with me and I have a lot of friends there, but that’s life,”
However, in his first few months at Shakhtar, he would face Arsenal in the Champions League, with both teams drawn into the same group.
Arsenal fans celebrated Eduardo goal in Champions League win vs Shakhtar
Arsenal were drawn against Shakhtar in the group stages in 2010, which saw Eduardo return to the Emirates just months after departing.
The Croatian was still a hugely popular figure amongst the Arsenal fans, and there was an electric atmosphere as The Gunners scored five in a convincing victory.
Arsenal were 5-0 up through goals from Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri, Alex Song, Jack Wilshere and Marouane Chamakh, but the best moment of the night came after.
Eduardo pulled a consolation goal back for Shakhtar, cleverly poking in a finish around centre-back Sebastian Squillaci, but the instant reaction from the Emirates fans was to stand and applaud.
The stadium announcer confirmed Eduardo as the goalscorer and a huge cheer roared around the ground, with fans singing his name, and shirts with his name placed around the Emirates.
Eduardo was nonchalant after his goal, with no desire to celebrate, but this was a rare occasion where a former Arsenal player has scored against them and been applauded for it.
The Brazil-born striker was one of the most naturally gifted finishers the club has seen, but his progress was halted by brutal injury, and many fans still believe that Arsenal would have won the title in 2008 had Eduardo stayed fit.
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