Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal
by Layth Yousif
in Prague 

ARSENAL eased to a comfortable Champions League win against Slavia Prague in the enchanting capital of the Czech Republic.

In front of a sellout crowd of 19,222 on a chilly Tuesday evening in Prague, Mikel Arteta’s imperious Gunners moved joint top of the 36-team table, to make it four wins in succession, with zero goals conceded in the continent’s biggest club tournament.

The victory was Arsenal’s 10th straight win in all competitions, with their eighth straight clean sheet, equalling a club record dating back to 1903.

Bukayo Saka’s first-half penalty put the Gunners in charge at the interval, before a brace from makeshift striker Mikel Merino after the break sealed an impressive victory.

Arteta made four changes to the side that beat Burnley last time out, with Merino up front in place of the injured Viktor Gyokeres.

Slavia Prague were winless in their previous four meetings with Arsenal, but they offered a strong start on and off the pitch this time — unsurprising given they hadn’t previously conceded in their last five games domestically, and are the current Czech champions.

After only 180 seconds Slavia’s Lukas Provod caused alarm along the visitor’s backline, as he drove into the box, but steered his low effort narrowly wide of David Raya’s far post.

Amid a relentlessly raucous Prague atmosphere powered by their fanatical support, including an impressive Tifo display during the early stages, Raya had to be alert to keep out Youssoupha Sanyang’s right-footed shot-low effort moments later.

Yet, after the initial onslaught by Slavia, Arsenal steeled themselves and fought back, with Saka having a shot saved on 19 minutes.

As the north Londoners started to dominate, Leo Trossard hooked the ball over the bar from Declan Rice’s corner.

It was only a matter of time before Arsenal asserted their pre-eminence through opening the scoring, which is what they achieved just after the half-hour mark.

Saka cooly slotting home his penalty on 32 minutes to put the Gunners ahead amid a raucous atmosphere in Prague, the opener coming after the ball hit Provod’s raised arm, following Gabriel’s header at the near post.

VAR’s explanation on the big screen explained that Provod’s left hand was in an unnatural position above the shoulder, which made his body bigger — so up stepped Saka to calmly score past Jakub Markovic to make it 1-0.

The lead was doubled moment after the interval when Merino fired home to make it 2-0 on 46 minutes — the goal coming from Trossard’s cross to the unmarked Spaniard, who clinically side-footed past Markovic. The strike made it four assists for the season for the Belgium attacker, who, during his pre-match press conference admitted he was a bad loser.

There were no such problems for Trossard on that score, but worse was to come for the home side, when Merino grabbed his second of the evening on 68 minutes, to make it 3-0.

Rice lofted a ball into the box, with Merino displaying determination to beat keeper Markovic as he nodded into the net. The 29-year-old Spain international has now scored 19 goals for club and country during a productive 2025.

There was even time for Max Dowman, at the ripe of age of 15 years and 308 days, to come on and break the record to become the Champions League’s youngest-ever player.

To underline the wealth of talent bubbling under at the club’s now famed Hale End academy, 17-year-old Andre Harriman-Annous, cousin of England rugby union captain Maro Itoje, capped a wonderful week by also making his Champions League bow, a week after his full first team debut.

As the clock ticked down Slavia were awarded a penalty, as the Gunners’ record of eight clean sheets appeared to be in danger.

However, VAR sent referee Aliyar Aghayev to think again, and take a look at the monitor — before the official from Azerbaijan changed his mind, to rescind his initial award of a spot kick to Slavia, much to the annoyance of the home crowd, not to mention the relief of statisticians delighted at the fact that Arsenal’s incredible defensive run would continue.

No wonder Slavia Prague’s boss, Jindrich Trpisovsky insisted Arteta’s Arsenal side have “no weaknesses.”

He added: “Inter Milan [who Slavia lost to in their second Champions League match] were strong at set-pieces, but Arsenal are stronger. 

“They are a top team with the best sporting level, the best fitness and the best evolved.”