Arsenal held off a second-half fightback from Slavia Prague to win 2-1 on the Fortuna Area and proceed their unbeaten begin to the season within the Champions League.
The Gunners, runners-up final time period, appeared on the right track for an emphatic victory after scoring twice by means of Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres in a one-sided first half.
However Slavia roared again into the competition within the second interval and gave Arsenal a scare as Wiktor Nowak’s late aim from shut vary arrange a nervous finale for Mikel Arteta’s aspect.
Arsenal held on to assert their third win in 4 Champions League video games however wanted a goal-line clearance from Gabriel Magalhaes and several other saves from David Raya, who brilliantly pushed an Oskar Kubiak header towards the publish shortly earlier than Slavia’s aim.
Noni Madueke celebrates placing Arsenal in entrance at Slavia Prague
Slavia had 17 photographs within the second half, having solely had one earlier than the break as Arsenal had been made to work for a end result which seemed a foregone conclusion after their dominant begin.
Arteta freshened up his aspect with six modifications from Sunday’s 1-0 win over Liverpool and Arsenal scored their early opener when Madueke completed coolly having been put by means of on aim by Gyokeres.
The striker added the second with a luxurious, curling end after combining with Mikel Merino however Arsenal missed probabilities to increase their lead earlier than the break and Slavia responded.
A change from a again 4 to a again three allowed the hosts to commit extra our bodies ahead they usually examined Arsenal’s resolve with a succession of probabilities. Raya’s aim was ultimately breached however the win sees the Gunners transfer as much as third within the league section desk.
Evaluation: Gyokeres discovering type
Gyokeres did not rating a single aim in his first 10 appearances of the season for Arsenal however his brilliantly taken effort towards Slavia Prague makes it two in his final three following his aim within the Carabao Cup tie towards Fleetwood City final week.
He might want to do it towards stronger opposition if he’s to show he ought to usurp Kai Havertz as Arteta’s first-choice No 9. However this was an encouraging show which suggests the Sweden worldwide is likely to be turning a nook after a troublesome begin to the marketing campaign.
Viktor Gyokeres celebrates his aim along with his team-mates
His aim, immaculately dispatched into the far nook from the left-hand aspect of the field, will likely be his largest supply of satisfaction. However there have been indicators of enchancment in his all-round sport too.
Gyokeres created the opener with a sensible cross across the nook for Madueke and had loads of different shiny moments along with his again to aim, linking the play tidily, bringing others to play, and finally making a useful contribution to a hard-fought victory.
Arteta: Our second half was very sloppy
Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta to TNT Sports activities:
“Clearly we have to worth that successful away within the Champions League is extraordinarily tough. We knew that – and we knew the gamers and the opponent that we had in entrance of us.
“Two very completely different halves, the primary one we performed a very excessive degree – distinctive at instances, I might say. The scoreline ought to have mirrored three or 4 targets. We did not do it.
“And at half-time, I informed them that they [Slavia] are a workforce with big spirit, they may maintain operating and maintain believing. They’ll change into extra chaotic. We did not management that in any respect, proper from the start.
“We had been on the again foot, very sloppy, we gave so many balls away, so many unhealthy clearances. We did not maintain the ball in our construction in any respect. After which you need to undergo as a result of groups within the Champions League are actually good. Rather a lot to be taught.”
Raya: Delighted with win however we are able to enhance
Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya to TNT Sports activities:
“First half, we performed actually rather well. We dominated the entire sport, created a variety of probabilities and will have scored a number of extra targets.
“The second half was a totally completely different half. From them, they went up a gear.
“We had been slightly bit stunned they usually made it actually tough for us – which we’ve to be taught from.
“We all know how necessary away video games are and the way tough locations like this may be. They turned man-to-man everywhere in the pitch.
“Delighted with the win, however we have issues to enhance going forwards.”
Arsenal have most wins in Europe
- Arsenal have gained 13 matches in all competitions this season, the joint most of any aspect in Europe’s big-five leagues together with Barcelona and Actual Madrid.
- 9 of Noni Madueke’s final 10 targets for Arsenal in all competitions have been scored away from residence.
- Viktor Gyokeres has been concerned in 16 targets in 25 Champions League appearances (12 targets, 4 assists).
- Slavia Prague had 17 photographs within the second half of the match – the joint-most in a single half towards Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal in a Champions League sport together with Sporting CP’s 17 within the second half in November 2024.
Key moments from Prague
- 9: GOAL! Madueke latches onto Gyokeres’s cross and finishes coolly by means of the legs of the goalkeeper
- 16: SAVE! Eberechi Eze tees up Merino for a shot from the sting of the field which needs to be tipped over by Nazar Domchak
- 24: OVER! Arsenal miss an enormous probability as Merino heads over from Gyokeres’s knockdown on the again publish
- 38: GOAL! Gyokeres curls an excellent end in off the publish for Arsenal’s second after a one-two with Merino
- 42: CLOSE! Gabriel has a header cleared off the road following a nook as Arsenal push for a 3rd
- 46: SAVE! Slavia begin the half brightly as Ozar Kubiak’s drive from the sting of the field needs to be pushed away by Raya
- 72: SHOT! Madueke slams an angled shot too near Domchak
- 75: OFF THE LINE! Gabriel heads the ball off the road earlier than Raya pushes Slavia’s follow-up effort across the publish
- 79 : CHANCE! Mikulas Konecny heads an enormous probability into the bottom when he ought to take a look at Raya
- 83 OFF THE POST! Kubiak’s header is acrobatically pushed onto the publish by Raya
- 90: GOAL! Nowak faucets into an empty internet from a left wing cross
- 90+4: CLOSE! Stepan Chaloupek wastes an opportunity to equalise as he sends a late header vast