Arsenal looked like they were going to cruise to a victory over Slavia Praha but turned in a poor, low-energy second half that made things more interesting than they should have been. The win moves them back towards the top of the Champions League table. That’s three of Arsenal’s four away matches in the League Phase out of the way at the halfway point. You’d expect them to be able to get a Top 8 finish over the line with three of the four remaining games at the Emirates.
The Gunners were too much
for the Czech side in the first half, opening the scoring early, controlling the game through the first half, and adding a second before the break. The second half was not terribly pretty, but it felt like the Gunners were in energy-conservation mode. They got the job done despite conceding a late goal and an unnecessarily nervy finish.
Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke, and Ebere Eze were particularly good, helped by quality performances from Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi in the middle. Piero Hincapie, who has played less than it seems like this season, was quite good and attacking-minded from left fullback. It’s important and good that Arsenal get such high-quality performances from the players who aren’t regular starters. As the dreaded holiday period approaches, the Gunners will need everyone firing to keep the squad as fresh and injury-free as possible.
Arsenal opened the scoring in the 9th minute. Viktor Gyokeres controlled the ball under pressure at midfield, turn, and threaded a volleyed pass between defenders to put Noni Madueke in on goal. The winger outran then held off his defender and slotted it through the keeper’s legs. A lovely goal.
The Gunners scored another pretty one in the 38th minute. Gyokeres laid it back to Mikel Merino on the edge of the Slavia box. The Spaniard’s pausa opened a tiny opening for him to find the Swede’s run into the box. In one motion, Big Vik cut inside a sliding defender and curled a shot in off the far post.
Between the two goals, the Gunners had a handful of excellent opportunities to extend their lead. Two of them fell to Mikel Merino, one of which he probably should have done better with. The Arsenal players had time and space on the ball that they simply don’t get in the Premier League. Similarly, Slavia lacked the organization and well-drilled structure that the Gunners see week-in, week-out. If you’re wondering “why don’t Arsenal look / play like this in the Premier League,” that’s why. The Gunners will rip you apart if you’re too open.
Slavia started the second half well, playing with much more energy, and causing a bit of concern for the Arsenal backline. The Gunners weathered the storm and re-established themselves after about 15 minutes. Slavia had a couple scrambles in the Arsenal box from set pieces, but the Gunners defense did enough to keep the ball out.
Slavia forced a tremendous save from David Raya from a header in the 82nd minute. The Arsenal keeper touched it onto the post at full stretch and somehow managed to keep the ricochet out, too. The home side eventually got their goal from the second ball off a long throw in the 90th minute. The throw-in itself wasn’t legal (and it wasn’t the first time they’d gotten away with a foul long throw). Arsenal saw out the five minutes of added time and take three points back to London.
Mikel Arteta will be furious with how his side played in the second half. Even if his instructions were to throttle back and see the game out, they did not do it with their usual composure and control. It was far too casual. The intensity of the Liverpool match over the weekend, even with lineup rotation, almost certainly took a toll on the legs. As I say, away days in the Champions League are tough and the home side made it difficult for the Gunners in the second half. In the end, the scoreline is all that matters and Arsenal won.
