Arsenal travel to Czechia to take on Slavia Prague on Matchday 4 of the Champions League. The Gunners are looking to keep their perfect league phase record intact. The Czech side are looking for their first win. The Červenobílí (red and whites) most recently drew Atalanta in Italy and Bodo/Glimt at home to go along with their 3-0 defeat at Inter Milan. The hosts are tied atop the Czech first league and unbeaten in the competition. They won’t be a pushover, particularly at home, needing three points
to stay in the hunt for one of the playoff places.
The Gunners bring a depleted attacking core to Prague. Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Martinelli were both recently ruled out until after the upcoming international break. They join Martin Ødegaard, Kai Havertz, and Noni Madueke on the shelf, all of whom are also out until at least the first match after the hiatus. Gabriel Jesus is targeting a December return to full training.
Mikel Arteta will also be without Martin Zubimendi, who is serving a yellow card suspension for picking up his third (in three CL matches) against Atletico Madrid. Declan Rice is one yellow away from suspension — he needs to avoid one today so that he doesn’t match the marquee matchup against Bayern Munich in late November.
Mikel Merino will likely lead the line for the Gunners, and Christian Norgaard looks the closest replacement in the center of the park. Arteta could also opt for Leandro Trossard up top, Ebere Eze on the left wing, and Mikel Merino in midfield.
The Gunners have faced the second-lowest expected goals against in the CL over the first three matches (Bayern Munich have faced a touch fewer). Arsenal have won nine straight matches in all competitions, not conceded a goal for seven-straight matches in all competitions and have hardly allowed any shots on target over that span. You have to go back to 1903 to find the last time the club kept 8 clean sheets in a row.
Arsenal are playing really, really well right now. So far, they’ve been able to weather to rash of injuries to attackers. Will adding Gyokeres to the list be one too many? Playing away in the Champions League is tricky and winning away is difficult. Despite that, this match is one that Arsenal really should be winning. And a win would leave them in excellent shape in the table.
Lineups will be posted when available.
WHO: Arsenal at Slavia Prague
WHAT: Champions League league phase match day 4
WHEN: Tuesday, November 4th, 9:45am PT | 12:45pm ET | 5:45pm GMT
WHERE: Fortuna Arena, Prague
HOW TO WATCH: Univision. Streaming on Paramount+ (US) and Amazon Prime Video (UK).
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