Arsenal Edges Past Slavia Praha 2-1 in UEFA Champions League
Mikel Arteta expressed frustration with his team's passive second-half performance despite securing an away victory in the Czech Republic.
Arsenal secured a narrow 2-1 victory against Slavia Praha at the Fortuna Arena in the UEFA Champions League. The English side controlled the opening period of the match, taking a commanding lead before withstanding a late surge from the hosts.
The Gunners started the game aggressively and opened the scoring in the ninth minute through Noni Madueke. Forward Viktor Gyokeres extended the lead in the 38th minute, putting Mikel Arteta's squad comfortably ahead with a 2-0 advantage going into halftime.
Despite dominating the first 45 minutes and preventing Slavia Praha from registering a single shot on target, the dynamic of the match shifted dramatically after the break. The visitors adopted a more passive stance, allowing the Czech team to register 16 attempts on goal during the second half.
Slavia Praha capitalized on the shift in momentum late in the game when Wiktor Nowak scored in the 90th minute, creating a tense finish for the Premier League side during stoppage time. However, Arsenal managed to hold on and claim all three points on the road.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta acknowledged the stark contrast between the two halves. "It is a game of two very different halves," Arteta said. "In the first half, we played at a very high level, and at times it was superb. It could have been three or four. In the second half, straight away, we did not control the situation."
Arteta highlighted the relentless spirit of the opposition and noted that his squad struggled to maintain possession and structure after the interval. "We had to suffer because teams in the Champions League are very good, and we have a lot to learn," the manager added.
The Spanish coach also pointed to the heavy travel schedule the team has faced early in the season, noting that the squad had played 11 away fixtures by early November, including three away matches in the span of just seven days. Despite his dissatisfaction with the second-half display, Arteta praised the team's overall effort and resilience.
The hard-fought win extends Arsenal's unbeaten run in this season's Champions League campaign and lifts the London club to third place in the league phase standings. Meanwhile, Slavia Praha remains near the bottom of the table with one point from four matches.