Arsenal climbed to third in the Champions League standings with a 2-1 win over Slavia Praha in Prague on Wednesday, staying undefeated in their European campaign. The Premier League champions struck twice early to take control before holding off a determined home side.
Early goals settle it
Arsenal’s early two goals gave them a platform that Slavia never quite managed to dismantle, and the visitors managed the game professionally from there. The Czech champions pushed hard in the second half and pulled one back, but Arsenal’s defence held firm to protect the lead and secure all three points on a tricky away night.
Unbeaten and climbing
The scoreline leaves Arsenal undefeated in their campaign with three wins and a draw, on 10 points, just two points behind table-toppers Paris Saint-Germain. That is a strong position at the midway point of the league phase, and it reflects a side that has learned how to win ugly in Europe as well as at home. Mikel Arteta’s team have combined defensive solidity with ruthless efficiency in the final third.
The win underlines how far Arsenal have come as a European force. Three wins and a draw from four matches, with 10 points and third place in the table, is a record built on defensive solidity and ruthless efficiency. The Gunners are just two points behind Paris Saint-Germain at the summit, and their remaining fixtures offer a real chance of a top-eight finish. Their next European test is a heavyweight meeting with Borussia Dortmund at the Emirates on 24 November, a game that already looks like one of the ties of the league phase.
Slavia’s wait goes on
For Slavia, the defeat extends a winless run in the competition, and their hopes of reaching the knockout rounds are fading fast. Arsenal, by contrast, look every inch a side built for a deep run. With four league-phase matches still to play, the Gunners are well placed to secure a top-eight finish, and their next European assignment — a home meeting with Borussia Dortmund on 24 November — already looks like a heavyweight occasion.
