Arsenal maintained their undefeated streak in the Champions League on Thursday, securing a 2-1 victory over Slavia Prague at the Fortuna Arena.
The result, confirmed by official UEFA data cited by ANTARA News, moves the Gunners to 10 points and third place in the league phase standings.
The match saw Mikel Arteta make six adjustments to his lineup following their recent Premier League win against Liverpool. Striker Viktor Gyokeres helped secure the victory, providing an assist for Noni Madueke’s opening goal in the ninth minute and scoring the second himself in the 38th minute. Gyokeres became the central figure during his 45 minutes on the pitch, replacing Kai Havertz in the starting formation.
While the first half saw Arsenal dominate, the intensity shifted after the break. Mikel Arteta told TNT Sports that the two halves presented distinctly different characters for his side. “On the first half, I think we played at a very high level, even extraordinary at some moments. The score should have shown a lead of three or four goals,” he said.
Slavia Prague’s late pressure forced a response, with Wiktor Nowak scoring a consolation goal in the 90th minute.
Viktor Gyokeres drew praise for his versatility in the final third, HARIAN DISWAY reported. Beyond his goal and assist, the Swedish forward was noted for his ability to hold up the ball and link play, effectively creating space for teammates like Eberechi Eze and Mikel Merino.
Gyokeres protected the ball from defenders before delivering the through pass that set up Madueke, and later added his goal through a one-two combination with Merino.
However, the broader tactical approach remains a subject of debate. Former Liverpool player Steve McManaman criticized the team’s style, suggesting that the pragmatism employed by Arteta often leaves strikers isolated. “They defend very deep, they defend as one unit, and the distance that must be traveled to reach the other end of the pitch and score is very far,” McManaman told Metro, as cited by Goal.com.
McManaman added: “I sometimes feel sorry for Arsenal’s forwards because they are not an entertaining team, they are not like Barcelona.”
Despite the early lead, the second half exposed vulnerabilities in Arsenal’s ball retention. “We lost the ball too often, especially in the final third. They then ran back towards our goal,” Raya said.
The hosts, who currently sit 34th in the league phase with one point, nearly equalized after Nowak’s late strike. The victory leaves Arsenal in a strong position, but Arteta faces questions regarding his side’s ability to maintain high-intensity performances for the full 90 minutes. The Gunners are scheduled to return to domestic action on Saturday against Hull City.
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