Arsenal beat Slavia Prague 2-1 in the Champions League to move into third place in the table, but they had to survive a nervy finish after Wiktor Nowak pulled a goal back in the 90th minute.
The result lifts the Gunners to 10 points from four matches. It also makes it 10 unbeaten away games in the competition for the first time in the club’s history.
Madueke and Gyokeres put Arsenal in control
The two sides arrived on very different runs. Arsenal had not lost an away game in Europe since May 2025, while Slavia were trying to avoid equalling the longest winless run in European Cup history, 23 games stretching back to their debut fixture in the competition in 2007.
The form book held early on. Oskar Kubiak misjudged a high ball in the ninth minute, and Viktor Gyokeres held it up before hooking a pass in behind for Noni Madueke. The winger sped into the box, held off Kubiak’s challenge and slid the ball past Nazar Domchak.
Arsenal dominated the first half. Mikel Merino led their efforts, seeing a long-range shot tipped over and nodding just over from close range after a Gyokeres pass. His best chance came in the 25th minute, when Ben White cut the ball back into his path. Merino scuffed his effort straight at Domchak.
The second goal arrived in the 38th minute. Merino won the ball in Slavia’s final third, and Declan Rice found Gyokeres with a neat pass. Gyokeres played a one-two with Merino on the edge of the box and curled a shot into the net from a tight angle.
Slavia fight back after the break
Slavia returned with renewed purpose. David Raya made his first save of the night when Kubiak shot from 20 yards, and Emmanuel Ayaosi also tried his luck from range without seriously testing the goalkeeper.
Arsenal’s chances dried up after the interval. Madueke’s shot at Domchak in the 71st minute was their best effort, but the defence stayed composed. Gabriel cleared Mojmir Chytil’s header off the line before Raya clawed away the rebound, and David Zima then curled over the top.
With seven minutes left, Raya produced an excellent save to deny Kubiak, who met a good cross from the right. The goalkeeper stretched out and scooped the ball off the line, using the post to his advantage.
Slavia did find a way back in the final minute of regular time. David Jurasek’s low centre pass allowed Nowak to sneak in and fire past Raya. Five anxious minutes of stoppage time followed. Stepan Chaloupek headed over, and in the final seconds Mikulas Konecny’s tame effort trickled into Raya’s hands.
What’s next
Arsenal have now played nine previous games in the Czech Republic without defeat, and that record survives. They turn their attention to the Premier League, where they will look for a fifth consecutive win when they host Hull City at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday. After the final international break of 2026, they travel to Newcastle United on Saturday, 21 November.