Arsenal continued their blistering form with a commanding 3-0 win over Slavia Prague in the UEFA Champions League, equalling a club record of eight consecutive clean sheets in all competitions and maintaining their perfect start to the tournament, Softfootball reports.
The Gunners are currently the most in-form side among Europe’s elite, having now won eight straight matches without conceding a single goal a run that stretches back to September, when they last let one in during a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Newcastle.
Coming into this game, Mikel Arteta’s side had just beaten Burnley 2-0 away in the Premier League, and they carried that same confidence into a charged atmosphere at the Fortuna Arena.
Slavia Prague’s manager, Jindřich Trpišovský, had promised an aggressive, high-energy display from his players, and the home crowd certainly played their part in the opening minutes. But Arsenal handled the pressure with maturity and composure, creating the first major chance when Gabriel Magalhães fired just wide with a left-footed volley barely two minutes in.
Slavia showed flashes of attacking threat, but Arsenal quickly took control, and Bukayo Saka twice tested goalkeeper Jakub Markovič midway through the first half.
The visitors’ patience was rewarded on the half-hour mark when Gabriel’s near-post header was blocked by the hand of Lukáš Provod. After a quick VAR check, the referee pointed to the spot, and Saka coolly slotted home the penalty to give Arsenal a deserved lead.
Barely 36 seconds after the restart, Arsenal doubled their advantage through a well-worked move. Leandro Trossard delivered a precise cross into the box, and Mikel Merino met it with a thunderous strike to make it 2-0. From that point, Arsenal were in full control, their defensive strength and calmness in possession silencing the home fans.
Despite a growing injury list and a thin bench, Arteta resisted major changes ahead of the weekend clash with Sunderland, introducing Eberechi Eze for a short cameo. The Gunners sealed the result when Declan Rice whipped in a teasing cross that looked set for the goalkeeper’s gloves before Merino darted in to nod home his second of the night, completing a dominant team display.
There was a brief moment of tension late on when referee Aliyar Aghayev awarded a penalty against Ben White for a collision with Lukáš Provod, but after a quick review, the decision was overturned. The closing stages saw history made as 15-year-old Max Dowman came off the bench to become the youngest-ever player in Champions League history, capping off a near-perfect night for Arsenal.
After the game, Arsenal confirmed via an exclusive video on its official X handle that Mikel Merino who scored a brace for the gunners was named the player of the match, the midfielder had some words for fans and supporters of the team after picking up his award. Arsenal posted:
With this victory, the Gunners temporarily moved to the top of the league phase table and further cemented their reputation as one of Europe’s most complete teams. Slavia Prague, meanwhile, remain winless in the tournament and are now on the brink of elimination.
