'Sloppy' Arsenal survive second-half scare to beat Slavia Prague

Arsenal held off a second-half fightback from Slavia Prague to win 2-1 at the Fortuna Arena and continue their unbeaten start to the season in the Champions League. The Gunners, runners-up last term, appeared on course for an emphatic victory after scoring twice through Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres in a one-sided first half.

But Slavia roared back into the contest in the second period and gave Arsenal a scare as Wiktor Nowak's late goal from close range set up a nervous finale for Mikel Arteta's side.

As it happened | How the teams lined up | Match statsChampions League fixtures and results | Table | Latest: ArsenalArsenal hung on to claim their third win in four Champions League games but needed a goal-line clearance from Gabriel Magalhaes and several saves from David Raya, who brilliantly pushed an Oskar Kubiak header against the post shortly before Slavia's goal.

Slavia had 17 shots in the second half, having only had one before the break as Arsenal were made to work for a result which looked a foregone conclusion after their dominant start. Arteta freshened up his side with six changes from Sunday's 1-0 win over Liverpool and Arsenal scored their early opener when Madueke finished coolly having been put through on goal by Gyokeres.

The striker added the second with a sumptuous, curling finish after combining with Mikel Merino but Arsenal missed chances to extend their lead before the break and Slavia responded. A switch from a back four to a back three allowed the hosts to commit more bodies forward and they tested Arsenal's resolve with a succession of chances.

Raya's goal was eventually breached but the win sees the Gunners move up to third in the league phase table. Analysis: Gyokeres finding formGyokeres didn't score a single goal in his first 10 appearances of the season for Arsenal but his brilliantly taken effort against Slavia Prague makes it two in his last three following his goal in the Carabao Cup tie against Fleetwood Town last week.

He will need to do it against stronger opposition if he is to prove he should usurp Kai Havertz as Arteta's first-choice No 9. But this was an encouraging display which suggests the Sweden international might be turning a corner after a tough start to the campaign. His goal, immaculately dispatched into the far corner from the left-hand side of the box, will be his biggest source of satisfaction.

But there were signs of improvement in his all-round game too. Gyokeres created the opener with a smart pass around the corner for Madueke and had plenty of other bright moments with his back to goal, linking the play tidily, bringing others to play, and ultimately making an invaluable contribution to a hard-fought victory.

Arteta: Our second half was very sloppyArsenal manager Mikel Arteta to TNT Sports:"Obviously we need to value that winning away in the Champions League is extremely difficult. We knew that - and we knew the players and the opponent that we had in front of us." Two very different halves, the first one we played a really high level - exceptional at times, I would say.

The scoreline should have reflected three or four goals. We didn't do it." And at half-time, I told them that they [Slavia] are a team with huge spirit, they will keep running and keep believing. They will become more chaotic. We didn't control that at all, right from the beginning." We were on the back foot, very sloppy, we gave so many balls away, so many bad clearances.

We didn't keep the ball in our structure at all. And then you have to suffer because teams in the Champions League are really good. A lot to learn." Arsenal have most wins in EuropeArsenal have won 13 matches in all competitions this season, the joint most of any side in Europe's big-five leagues along with Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Nine of Noni Madueke's last 10 goals for Arsenal in all competitions have been scored away from home. Viktor Gyokeres has been involved in 16 goals in 25 Champions League appearances (12 goals, four assists).

Slavia Prague had 17 shots in the second half of the match - the joint-most in a single half against Mikel Arteta's Arsenal in a Champions League game along with Sporting CP's 17 in the second half in November 2024. Key moments from Prague9: GOAL! Madueke latches onto Gyokeres's pass and finishes coolly through the legs of the goalkeeper16: SAVE!

Eberechi Eze tees up Merino for a shot from the edge of the box which has to be tipped over by Nazar Domchak24: OVER! Arsenal miss a big chance as Merino heads over from Gyokeres's knockdown at the back post38: GOAL! Gyokeres curls a superb finish in off the post for Arsenal's second after a one-two with Merino42: CLOSE! Gabriel has a header cleared off the line following a corner as Arsenal push for a third46: SAVE!

Slavia start the half brightly as Ozar Kubiak's drive from the edge of the box has to be pushed away by Raya72: SHOT! Madueke slams an angled shot too close to Domchak75: OFF THE LINE! Gabriel heads the ball off the line before Raya pushes Slavia's follow-up effort around the post79 : CHANCE! Mikulas Konecny heads a big chance into the ground when he should test Raya83 OFF THE POST!

Kubiak's header is acrobatically pushed onto the post by Raya90: GOAL! Nowak taps into an empty net from a left wing cross90+4: CLOSE! Stepan Chaloupek wastes a chance to equalise as he sends a late header wideUpcoming fixtures... Arsenal fixturesChampions League fixturesPremier League fixtures

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