Arsenal continued their unbeaten start to the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League campaign with a 2-1 victory over Slavia Prague in the Czech Republic on Wednesday, November 4.
The Premier League side scored twice in the first half through Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyökeres before surviving a difficult second half to claim all three points.
The result also extended Arsenal’s unbeaten away run in the Champions League to 10 matches, setting a new club record in the competition.
The victory moved Mikel Arteta’s team to third place in the Champions League league-phase table, with 10 points from their opening four matches.
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Madueke gives Arsenal an early lead
Arsenal started the match with confidence and took the lead in the ninth minute through Madueke.
The England international received a pass from Gyökeres, who controlled a long ball and released him behind the Slavia Prague defence.
Madueke moved into the penalty area before calmly sending the ball past goalkeeper Nazar Domchak.
The early goal gave Arsenal control of the match and put pressure on the home side to respond.
Arsenal continued to create opportunities, with Mikel Merino among the players who came close to extending the advantage.
The visitors eventually scored their second goal in the 38th minute.
Gyökeres doubles Arsenal’s advantage
Gyökeres increased Arsenal’s lead with an impressive finish shortly before half-time.
The move began when Merino won possession in Slavia Prague’s half. Declan Rice then found the Swedish striker, who combined with Merino before curling the ball into the net from a tight angle.
The goal gave Arsenal a comfortable two-goal advantage heading into the break.
It was also an encouraging moment for Gyökeres, who had experienced a difficult period in front of goal earlier in the season.
His contribution was particularly important because he had already assisted Madueke’s opening goal.
The striker’s performance offered Arsenal another positive sign as they continued their European campaign.
Slavia Prague fight back after the break
Although Arsenal controlled much of the first half, the second period proved more difficult.
Slavia Prague returned with greater attacking energy and began putting the visitors under pressure.
The Czech side created several opportunities and forced Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya into important saves.
Gabriel Magalhães also played a key defensive role, clearing a header from Mojmír Chytil off the goal line after a Slavia corner.
Raya was required to make further interventions as the home team continued searching for a goal.
One of his important saves came when he stretched to keep out an effort from Oskar Kubiak.
Arsenal struggled to maintain the same level of control they had shown before half-time, allowing Slavia to increase their attacking pressure.
The home side eventually reduced the deficit in the 90th minute.
David Jurásek delivered a low cross into the penalty area, where Wiktor Nowak finished to make the score 2-1.
The late goal created a tense finish, with Slavia pushing forward in search of an equaliser.
However, Arsenal managed the remaining minutes and held on to secure the victory.
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Arteta admits Arsenal must improve
Despite the victory, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta acknowledged that his team had not maintained its first-half performance after the break.
He praised the quality of the opening period but admitted that his players struggled to control the game when Slavia Prague increased their intensity.
Arteta also pointed out that his side had missed opportunities to score more goals before half-time.
The manager’s comments reflected the importance of learning from difficult moments, even after securing a positive result.
Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya also acknowledged the difference between the two halves. He expressed satisfaction with the victory while recognising that the team had areas to improve.
The match showed Arsenal’s attacking quality but also highlighted the need for greater defensive concentration when protecting a lead away from home.
A new milestone for Arsenal in Europe
The victory was significant beyond the three points.
Arsenal extended their unbeaten away run in the Champions League to 10 matches, the longest such run in the club’s history.
The achievement highlights the team’s growing ability to compete in difficult European away fixtures.
Winning on the road is particularly important in the Champions League, where teams often face intense pressure from home supporters and opponents looking to take advantage of familiar surroundings.
Arsenal’s performance in Prague showed both their attacking strength and their ability to withstand pressure when the match became difficult.
The result also maintained their unbeaten start to the current league phase, giving the team a strong position as the competition progresses.
Arsenal turn attention to upcoming fixtures
The Gunners will now look to build on the result as they continue their domestic and European campaigns.
Their next matches will provide further opportunities to maintain momentum and strengthen their position in the Champions League standings.
For Arteta, the main challenge will be ensuring that the team can reproduce its first-half quality over an entire match.
The victory over Slavia Prague was another important step for Arsenal, but the late scare also served as a reminder that matches at the highest European level can change quickly.
With 10 points from four matches and a club-record unbeaten away run, Arsenal will take confidence from their performance in Prague as they pursue another strong Champions League campaign.
