Slavia Prague vs Arsenal. UEFA Champions League. Report as Arsenal move up to third in Champions League league phase table with 2-1 win over Slavia Prague; Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres scored as the Gunners withstood second-half pressure to continue their unbeaten start in the competition Arsenal survived a second-half fightback from Slavia Prague to win 2-1 at the Fortuna Arena and continue their unbeaten start to the season in the Champions League. The Gunners, runners-up last term, appeared on course for an emphatic victory after scoring twice through Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres in a one-sided first half.
But Slavia roared back into the contest in the second period and gave Arsenal a scare as Wiktor Nowak’s late goal from close range set up a nervous finale for Mikel Arteta’s side. Arsenal hung on to claim their third win in four Champions League games but needed a goal-line clearance from Gabriel Magalhaes and several saves from David Raya, who brilliantly pushed an Oskar Kubiak header against the post shortly before Slavia’s goal. Slavia had 17 shots in the second half, having only had one before the break as Arsenal were made to work for a result which looked a foregone conclusion after their dominant start. Arteta freshened up his side with six changes from Sunday’s 1-0 win over Liverpool and Arsenal scored their early opener when Madueke finished coolly having been put through on goal by Gyokeres.
The striker added the second with a sumptuous, curling finish after combining with Mikel Merino but Arsenal missed chances to extend their lead before the break and Slavia responded. A switch from a back four to a back three allowed the hosts to commit more bodies forward and they tested Arsenal’s resolve with a succession of chances. Raya’s goal was eventually breached but the win sees the Gunners move up to third in the league phase table. William Saliba returned to Arsenal’s squad for the first time this season as an unused substitute following his back injury.
Gyokeres didn’t score a single goal in his first 10 appearances of the season for Arsenal but his brilliantly taken effort against Slavia Prague makes it two in his last three following his goal in the Carabao Cup tie against Fleetwood Town last week. He will need to do it against stronger opposition if he is to prove he should usurp Kai Havertz as Arteta’s first-choice No 9. But this was an encouraging display which suggests the Sweden international might be turning a corner after a tough start to the campaign. His goal, immaculately dispatched into the far corner from the left-hand side of the box, will be his biggest source of satisfaction.
But there were signs of improvement in his all-round game too. Gyokeres created the opener with a smart pass around the corner for Madueke and had plenty of other bright moments with his back to goal, linking the play tidily, bringing others to play, and ultimately making an invaluable contribution to a hard-fought victory. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to TNT Sports: “Obviously we need to value that winning away in the Champions League is extremely difficult. We knew that – and we knew the players and the opponent that we had in front of us.
“Two very different halves, the first one we played a really high level – exceptional at times, I would say. The scoreline should have reflected three or four goals. We didn’t do it. “And at half-time, I told them that they [Slavia] are a team with huge spirit, they will keep running and keep believing.
They will become more chaotic. We didn’t control that at all, right from the beginning. “We were on the back foot, very sloppy, we gave so many balls away, so many bad clearances. We didn’t keep the ball in our structure at all.
And then you have to suffer because teams in the Champions League are really good. A lot to learn.” Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya to TNT Sports: “First half, we played really really well. We dominated the whole game, created a lot of chances and could have scored a few more goals. “The second half was a completely different half.
From them, they went up a gear. “We were a little bit surprised and they made it really difficult for us – which we have to learn from. “We know how important away games are and how difficult places like this can be. They became man-to-man all over the pitch.
“Delighted with the win, but we’ve got things to improve going forwards.” Play Super 6 for a chance to win £1m! Enter for free.
