Arsenal maintained their unbeaten Champions League campaign with a 2-1 victory over Slavia Prague, but the away side were forced to endure a tense finish after surrendering control of a match they had dominated. The Arsenal Slavia Prague Champions League contest at the Eden Arena on Wednesday night swung dramatically after a one-sided first half in which Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres had seemingly put Mikel Arteta’s team on course for a comfortable win.
Arsenal made six changes from the side that beat Liverpool on Sunday, and the reshuffled lineup clicked immediately. Gyokeres, who has struggled for goals since arriving at the club, turned provider in the ninth minute, slipping a pass through for Madueke to finish calmly past goalkeeper Nazar Domchak. The striker then doubled the lead himself in the 38th minute, curling a superb effort off the post after a one-two with Mikel Merino.
Further chances came and went before the interval. Merino headed over from a Gyokeres knockdown, while Gabriel Magalhaes saw a header cleared off the line as Arsenal pushed for a third. The scoreline flattered Slavia at the break, but the second half told a very different story.
Slavia's Second-Half Surge
The hosts switched from a back four to a back three, committing more players forward and transforming the contest. Slavia registered 17 shots after the break, having managed just one before it, and repeatedly tested Arsenal’s defence. David Raya was called into action early in the half to push away a drive from Oskar Kubiak, and the goalkeeper produced an acrobatic save to tip another Kubiak header onto the post shortly before Slavia’s goal.
Gabriel headed a goal-bound effort off the line in the 75th minute, and Raya pushed a follow-up around the post as the pressure mounted. Slavia’s persistence finally paid off in the 90th minute when Wiktor Nowak tapped into an empty net from a left-wing cross, setting up a nervous finale. Stepan Chaloupek had a late header to equalise but sent it wide, allowing Arsenal to hold on.
Arteta Critical of Second-Half Display
Arteta was frank in his assessment after the match, telling TNT Sports that his side’s performance after the break fell well below their usual standards. He praised the first-half display as exceptional and suggested the scoreline should have reflected three or four goals, but admitted his team failed to handle Slavia’s increased intensity and chaotic approach. He described Arsenal’s play as sloppy, citing frequent losses of possession and poor clearances, and acknowledged there was much to learn from the experience.
Raya echoed his manager’s sentiments, noting that Slavia raised their level after the interval and made things difficult by going man-to-man across the pitch. The goalkeeper expressed delight with the win but stressed that improvements are needed.
Gyokeres Finding His Feet
Gyokeres’s curling finish was his second goal in three appearances, following his strike against Fleetwood Town in the Carabao Cup. The Sweden international had failed to score in his first 10 games for Arsenal, and while questions remain over whether he can displace Kai Havertz as the first-choice No 9, his all-round contribution against Slavia offered encouragement. His pass for Madueke’s opener and his link-up play with his back to goal were notable bright spots on a difficult night for the team.
William Saliba, returning to the squad for the first time this season after a back injury, was an unused substitute.
Match Facts and Context
The result lifts Arsenal to third in the Champions League league phase table and extends their unbeaten start in the competition. It was their third win in four games. Slavia’s 17 second-half shots matched the most any side has managed in a single half against an Arteta-coached Arsenal in the Champions League, equalling Sporting CP’s tally in November 2024.
Arsenal have now won 13 matches in all competitions this season, the joint-most among teams in Europe’s big-five leagues alongside Barcelona and Real Madrid. Madueke’s opener continued a striking trend: nine of his last 10 goals for the club in all competitions have come away from home. Gyokeres, meanwhile, has now been involved in 16 goals in 25 Champions League appearances, with 12 goals and four assists.
The win keeps Arsenal’s European campaign on track, but the second-half display in Prague will give Arteta and his staff plenty to address as they prepare for the next round of fixtures.
