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Another game, another slew of records for Arsenal’s defensive machine. This time it was one that had stretched back more than 55 years, when Leeds became the last English team not to concede a goal in their opening four matches, in the 1969/70 European Cup campaign under Don Revie.
Slavia Prague gave it their best shot and thought they had been awarded a late penalty, only for the video assistant referee to deny them. The Czech champions finally recorded a shot on target against David Raya in stoppage time, but Arsenal made it eight successive clean sheets in all competitions for the first time since they were in what was the Second Division, in 1903.
A penalty from Bukayo Saka and two second-half goals from their makeshift striker Mikel Merino sealed a 10th successive victory for Mikel Arteta’s side. There was also a special moment for Max Dowman as he became the youngest player in Champions League history at just 15 years 308 days, when he was brought on to replace the excellent Leandro Trossard with the points already firmly in the bag.
It has been to Arsenal’s immense credit that they have managed to maintain their winning run with so many attacking players missing through injury, with Viktor Gyökeres becoming the latest when he limped off against Burnley on Saturday. There are fears that the Sweden striker has injured a hamstring but it is hoped he could return with Gabriel Martinelli and the captain Martin Ødegaard in time for the north London derby against Tottenham after the international break.
In the meantime, Merino was back in the role that he filled so admirably last season and showed he has lost none of his sharpness in front of goal with two well-taken finishes. There were three other changes as Christian Nørgaard performed well in place of the suspended Martín Zubimendi and Piero Hincapié and Ethan Nwaneri also impressed on rare starts.
Slavia’s manager Jindrich Trpisovsky is an experienced character who has won four league titles and beforehand he rated Arsenal as one of the best teams his side have ever faced, as well as describing Declan Rice as the best free-kick taker in the world. They remain without a win so far in this competition after returning to the top of their domestic league at the weekend but knew they were up against it given that Arsenal were unbeaten in their previous 10 games against Czech opposition, conceding only three goals.
However it was the hosts who made the more encouraging start as Arsenal were unsettled by their all-action pressing game, with 6ft 6in Czech international striker Tomas Chory providing a stiff physical test for their defence. Gabriel Magalhães needed treatment for a facial injury midway through the first half but there was never any chance of him coming off. Slavia were able to deal comfortably with Arsenal’s first corner soon afterwards as Nwaneri was booked for pulling back Youssoupha Sanyang when he tried to launch a quick break downfield.
Saka finally tested Jakub Markovic in the Slavia goal after 25 minutes after powering into the area and Rice’s next corner was much more dangerous as it almost sneaked in at the near post. Another Saka shot was just as close and Gabriel was able to make first contact on the resulting corner, with the VAR spotting that Lukas Provod’s left arm had been in an unnatural position when he blocked the Brazilian’s goalbound header. Saka made light of the protestations from the home supporters behind the goal and stepped up to coolly give Arsenal the lead. Slavia thought they should have had a penalty as well just before the break after a call for handball by Hincapié but this time the referee from Azerbaijan was not interested.
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Any hopes that they could find a way back into the game were dealt a major blow within 40 seconds of the restart. Rice picked out Trossard in acres of space and his cross was volleyed in emphatically at the near post by Merino. This was Arsenal at their clinical best.
A fuming Chory was immediately withdrawn as Slavia tried to switch game plans but they still couldn’t manage to trouble Raya. Merino’s second was a real poacher’s finish as he beat Markovic to Rice’s cross to loop his header into the empty net.
It has been some week for Dowman, who became the youngest player to start a game for Arsenal in the Carabao Cup win over Brighton and has now surpassed Youssoufa Moukoko of Borussia Dortmund’s record of 16 years and 18 days that was set in December 2020. He looked totally at home in these surroundings and not even a late scare when Ben White was initially penalised for a high boot before the VAR intervened again could stop Arsenal on another perfect evening.
