Arsenal beat Slavia Prague 2-1 to maintain their unbeaten start to the Champions League season, despite being forced to withstand a sustained second-half comeback in the Czech capital.
Mikel Arteta’s side looked in complete control after Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres put them two goals ahead before half-time. Slavia responded after the interval, with Wiktor Nowak’s late close-range finish creating a tense finale.
Arsenal had made six changes from the team that defeated Liverpool 1-0 on Sunday, but quickly found their rhythm. Gyokeres released Madueke, who kept his composure to finish through the goalkeeper’s legs and open the scoring after nine minutes.
Slavia goalkeeper Nazar Domchak then denied Mikel Merino from distance, while Merino headed over from a Gyokeres knockdown as Arsenal sought to extend their advantage.
The second goal arrived in the 38th minute. Gyokeres exchanged passes with Merino before curling a superb effort in off the post, leaving Arsenal seemingly on course for a comfortable victory.
That outlook changed sharply after the break. Slavia switched from a back four to a back three and committed more players forward, producing 17 second-half shots after managing only one before the interval.
David Raya was required to make several important interventions, including a save from Oskar Kubiak’s header that sent the ball against the post. Gabriel Magalhaes also headed an effort off the line before Raya pushed the follow-up around the post.
Slavia continued to threaten, but Arsenal survived further opportunities, including a header from Mikulas Konecny that was directed into the ground and another attempt from Kubiak that Raya acrobatically turned on to the post.
Nowak finally reduced the deficit in the 90th minute by tapping into an empty net from a cross, but Slavia could not find an equaliser. Stepan Chaloupek sent a late header wide as Arsenal secured their third win in four Champions League matches and moved up to third in the league-phase table.
