Arsenal continued their dominant form with a resounding 3-0 victory over Slavia Prague in the Champions League on Tuesday night, securing their tenth consecutive win in all competitions. The Gunners' impressive run also includes eight straight clean sheets, matching a club record that dates back 122 years.
Mikel Arteta's side, despite missing key attacking players through injury, proved too strong for their Czech opponents. Bukayo Saka opened the scoring with a penalty in the first half, while Mikel Merino, filling in as a makeshift forward, bagged a brace in the second half to seal the victory.
The match began with a high tempo, as Slavia Prague, encouraged by their boisterous home crowd, pressed Arsenal early on. Gabriel Magalhães nearly gave Arsenal the lead in the opening minutes with a left-footed volley that went narrowly wide. Slavia responded with some attacking intent of their own, but Arsenal gradually gained control of the game.
Bukayo Saka proved to be a constant threat to the Slavia defense. The English winger forced Slavia goalkeeper Jakub Markovic into a couple of saves before eventually winning a penalty. The spot-kick was awarded after a VAR review determined that Lukas Provod had handled Gabriel's header in the penalty area. Saka calmly slotted the penalty into the bottom corner, giving Arsenal a 1-0 lead.
Arsenal started the second half with a bang, doubling their lead within seconds of the restart. Leandro Trossard delivered a perfect cross from the left, and Mikel Merino volleyed home to make it 2-0. The goal was Arsenal's fastest second-half goal in Champions League history.
Merino wasn't done there, as he added his second goal in the 68th minute, heading home Declan Rice's cross to extend Arsenal's lead to 3-0. The Spanish international, who has filled in admirably in the absence of injured strikers, showcased his sharpness in front of goal with two well-taken finishes.
Slavia Prague thought they had a chance to get back into the game when they were awarded a late penalty, but the decision was overturned after a VAR review. Arsenal's defense remained resolute, securing their eighth consecutive clean sheet in all competitions.
In addition to the victory and the clean sheet record, the match also saw Max Dowman become the youngest player in Champions League history at 15 years and 308 days, after coming on as a substitute.
Arsenal's win sees them maintain their perfect start to their Champions League campaign with four wins from four matches. They also sit atop the Premier League standings, highlighting their excellent form this season.
Mikel Arteta praised Mikel Merino's performance, highlighting his leadership and mindset. Arsenal's ability to maintain their winning run despite injuries to key attacking players is a testament to their squad depth and tactical flexibility. Bukayo Saka also entered the record books, becoming the first Arsenal player to score in four consecutive Champions League away games.
