Arsenal hold off Slavia Praha for 2-1 Champions League win

Match overview

Arsenal claimed a 2-1 away victory over Slavia Praha at Fortuna Arena in Matchday 4 of the Champions League league stage. The visitors built their advantage before the interval through Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyökeres, then absorbed a late response after Wiktor Nowak pulled one back in the 90th minute.

It was a match in which Arsenal had more of the ball, completing 402 of 484 passes and recording 56% possession. Slavia, however, remained a real attacking threat: the home side finished with 18 shots, six on target and four big chances created. Arsenal’s edge came in the decisive moments, turning two of their five big chances into the goals that settled the contest.

Arsenal strike early

The opening goal arrived in the ninth minute. Madueke finished with his right foot after Viktor Gyökeres supplied the assist, giving Arsenal an early 1-0 lead.

Slavia stayed involved, but Arsenal struck again late in the first half. Gyökeres scored with a right-footed finish in the 38th minute, with Mikel Merino credited for the assist. The second goal established a two-goal cushion at the break and proved vital after the home side’s late push.

Gyökeres was named Player of the Match with a rating of 8.15. His contribution extended beyond the goal: he also created Arsenal’s opener for Madueke. Madueke, who was replaced in the third minute of stoppage time by Max Dowman, received a rating of 7.57.

Slavia’s second-half response

Slavia made two changes at the start of the second half, introducing Mojmír Chytil and Ange N’Guessan, and later used all five substitutions. The home side increased their threat over the course of the match, posting more total shots than Arsenal, 18 to 12, as well as more corners, 4 to 2.

Their attacking numbers underline how narrow the margin remained. Slavia had 12 shots from inside the box, six shots on target and 13 key passes. They also hit the woodwork once. Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya made four saves, while Slavia goalkeeper Nazar Domchak made three.

The reward finally came in the 90th minute. Nowak scored with his right foot, assisted by substitute David Jurásek, to make it 2-1. It gave the final minutes added tension, but no further goal followed.

Control and contest

Arsenal led several of the possession and contest metrics. They produced 101 attacks to Slavia’s 87, and 51 dangerous attacks to 39. The visitors also won 67 duels compared with 46, completed 11 successful dribbles to seven, and won 23 successful headers to Slavia’s 12.

Slavia found other routes to compete. They delivered 15 crosses, including five accurate ones, compared with Arsenal’s seven crosses and one accurate delivery. They also registered 19 interceptions, more than double Arsenal’s eight, and completed 22 successful long passes at a 46% success rate.

Both teams began in a 4-2-3-1 formation and each made five substitutions. Discipline was relatively contained: Slavia received one yellow card, shown to David Moses in the 20th minute, while Arsenal collected two, for Ezri Konsa and Declan Rice.

The verdict

Arsenal’s first-half efficiency defined the outcome. Madueke’s early finish and Gyökeres’ goal just before the interval supplied the margin that withstood Slavia’s energetic final push. Slavia’s late goal and superior shot count ensured that the result remained in the balance until the end, but Arsenal left Prague with the three points after a composed close to a demanding away fixture.