Gyökeres leads Arsenal past Slavia Prague as Raya protects 2-1 win

Arsenal beat Slavia Prague 2-1 on Wednesday to remain unbeaten in this season's Champions League, with Viktor Gyökeres supplying an assist and a goal. Sky Sports reported that the victory was Arsenal's third in four league-phase matches and moved them into third place in the table.

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Noni Madueke opened the scoring in the ninth minute before Gyökeres doubled the advantage in the 38th. LaLiga's match record confirmed both goal times and credited Mikel Merino with the assist for the second. Gyökeres struck from the left side of the penalty area, sending his right-footed effort into the opposite top corner.

Arsenal had further opportunities before the interval. The match record listed a Merino header over the bar in the 24th minute and a save by Nazar Domchak from the midfielder three minutes later. Slavia went into half-time two goals behind, then brought on Ange N'Guessan and Mojmír Chytil as they sought a response.

The change in the contest was reflected in Slavia's shooting figures. According to Sky Sports, the hosts attempted 17 shots after the break, compared with one in the first half. Arsenal needed a goal-line intervention from Gabriel Magalhães and saves from David Raya, including one that diverted Oskar Kubiak's header onto the post, to protect their lead.

Wiktor Nowak finally scored for Slavia in the 90th minute, finishing from close range after a David Jurásek cross. LaLiga's commentary recorded five minutes of added time and further chances for the hosts. Stepán Chaloupek headed wide, while Raya stopped a Mikulás Konecny effort. Those opportunities came with Arsenal's advantage reduced to a single goal, but no equaliser followed.

Mikel Arteta acknowledged the contrast between the two halves in comments to TNT Sports carried by Sky Sports. He said Arsenal had created enough first-half chances for a larger lead but had then struggled to keep possession and clear the ball effectively. Raya likewise welcomed the away victory while saying the team had improvements to make after Slavia's second-half response.