UCL: Arsenal Make It Four From Four With Late-Scare Win At Slavia Prague

Gyokeres shines as Arsenal grind out win over resilient Slavia

Viktor Gyokeres was at the heart of everything as Arsenal edged Slavia Prague 2-1 a win that keeps their perfect Champions League start alive, but not without a late scare.

Arsenal survive nervy ending to Claim Narrow Champions League win at Slavia Prague...

Arsenal survived a nervy ending to claim a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Slavia Prague, whose winless run in the UEFA Champions League proper now extends to a joint-competition record 23 games (D8, L15).

The two sides met in the Czech capital exactly a year after the Gunners claimed a 3-0 victory in last season’s league phase, and it took Arsenal just nine minutes to strike first here through Noni Madueke.

David Raya launched a long ball forward that Viktor Gyokeres flicked on into Madueke’s path. The England winger burst clear one-on-one with Nazar Domchak and coolly slotted it through the keeper’s legs.

Merino, who netted a brace in this fixture last season, was almost off the mark again early on, only for Domchak to tip his powerful long-range effort over the bar.

The Spanish midfielder then squandered two more openings first nodding Gyokeres’ cross over the top, then seeing another attempt kept out by Domchak.

Arteta’s men were in complete control against a Slavia side that looked content to simply limit the damage. The second goal felt inevitable, and it arrived in the 38th minute when Gyokeres exchanged a neat one-two with Merino before curling a superb finish in off the post.

After a first half where they never once troubled Raya, Slavia finally woke up straight after the interval. Just 60 seconds into the second period, Oskar Kubiak let fly from distance and forced the Arsenal keeper into his first real save of the night.

Trpisovsky’s team were a different animal after half-time sharper, hungrier, and pressing with real purpose. Emmanuel Ayaosi was next to have a go, his strike taking a nick off Ezri Konsa on its way wide.

It was a far braver display from the hosts, and for a spell Arsenal were living dangerously. Gabriel had to be alert to head two efforts off the line back-to-back, and moments later Raya produced a superb stop to claw Kubiak’s header away from goal.

Traction

But Slavia finally got what their second-half effort deserved in the 90th minute. David Jurasek whipped in a dangerous ball across the face of goal, and Wiktor Nowak was on hand to tap it home from close range and set up a nervy finish.

Arsenal did manage to see it out in the end, though, stretching their unbeaten run away from home in the Champions League to 10 matches (W7, D3). They also remain unbeaten against Czech opposition, with 10 wins and two draws from 12 meetings.

Key Match Statistics 

For Slavia, it was another night to forget. They are now without a win in their last 19 games in European competition (D6, L13).