Arsenal secured a narrow 2-1 victory away to Slavia Prague on Wednesday night to climb into third place in the Champions League league phase. Viktor Gyökeres was the decisive figure, setting up the opener before scoring himself to give the Gunners a cushion they would ultimately need.
Gyökeres created the first goal after nine minutes, his low cross turned in by Noni Madueke. The Swedish striker then doubled the lead seven minutes before half-time, finishing emphatically after a pass from Mikel Merino. The home side pulled a goal back in the final minute through Wiktor Nowak, but Arsenal held on for a vital three points.
How the match unfolded
Mikel Arteta made six changes from the side that beat Liverpool last Sunday. The rotated side started brightly, with Gyökeres at the heart of their best work. His third assist in his last five appearances unlocked the Slavia defence early. Gyökeres said afterwards.
The second half saw Slavia push forward, forcing Arsenal into a defensive rearguard. The Gunners, who have not lost an away match since May 2025, managed the pressure well until the 90th minute, when Nowak’s strike set up a tense finale. The win extends Arsenal’s unbeaten run in European away games to 11 matches.
What the result means
This result is a significant boost in the new league phase format, moving Arsenal into the top three. It continues a strong run of form that has seen the team go five games unbeaten in all competitions. Back in domestic action, Arsenal remain top of the Premier League, three points clear with 24 points from nine games. Their league record stands at eight wins and one loss, with 14 goals scored and only five conceded. The team's top scorer this season is Kai Havertz, who has three goals in nine appearances.
The victory also helped Arsenal avoid an unwanted record, having now gone 24 European matches without a defeat. With key players rested and key points banked, the focus now shifts to maintaining their lead at the summit of English football. This follows a sequence of recent results including a 1-0 win at Liverpool on Sunday 1 November and a 2-0 home victory over Everton on Saturday 24 October.
More detail at The Guardian Football
