Viktor Gyökeres was the best player on the pitch in Prague, with a goal, an assist and his sharpest link play in an Arsenal shirt, while Martín Zubimendi and David Raya did the most to make sure a 2-0 lead became a 2-1 win.
Arsenal beat Slavia Prague at the Fortuna Arena on Wednesday night thanks to first-half goals from Noni Madueke and Gyökeres. That makes it three wins from four in the Champions League league phase, ten points, and a climb to third in the table.
It was two very different halves. Arsenal were in control before the break and should have been further ahead, then Slavia changed shape at half-time and spent most of the second half on the front foot. Wiktor Nowak’s goal in the 90th minute set up a nervy finish, and the full story of the night is in our Slavia Prague 1-2 Arsenal match report. Here is how we rated every Arsenal player.
Arsenal player ratings vs Slavia Prague: the defence
David Raya: 8
Had almost nothing to do in the first half and was a bit casual on the ball at times. After the break he was busy straight away, dealing with Oskar Kubiak’s long-range effort seconds after the restart, and then made the save of the night, getting his fingertips to the ball and pushing it onto the post. Arteta said afterwards: “He had to show his quality again. Much more than what we expected.” He was finally beaten by Nowak’s close-range finish at the end.
Ben White: 7
Looked close to his best going forward, flying up to support Madueke on the right. His cut-back in the first half was perfect and Mikel Merino should have scored from it. Sloppier after the break, like most of the team, and replaced by Jurriën Timber on 78 minutes.
Ezri Konsa: 6
A mixed night. A rash challenge on the edge of the box gave away a dangerous free-kick, and he was booked for another late one on 53 minutes. There was also a superb burst down the right that hinted at what he could do at right-back, and a key block to stop Emmanuel Ayaosi. Taken off on 62 minutes, and he is now a doubt for the weekend.
Gabriel: 7
Rescued Arsenal with two goal-line clearances within a few seconds of each other in the second half, which was heroic defending. Went close with a header from a corner just before half-time. He lost his bearings as the cross came in for Nowak’s goal, which takes a point off an otherwise strong night.
Piero Hincapié: 6
Much sharper than he looked against Fleetwood. He was a real threat down the left in the first half and his runs out wide gave Eberechi Eze room. He faded badly after the break, though, and even got in the way of a Christos Tzolis shot.
Was Zubimendi the best midfielder on the pitch?
Martín Zubimendi: 8
Yes, and it was not close. On a rare start, Zubimendi won eight of his ten duels and played with a zip that got Arsenal moving in the first half. His passing and defensive work were a reminder of why Arsenal signed him, and on this evidence he deserves more minutes.
Declan Rice: 6
Wore the armband and had some very tidy moments, and Slavia could not cope with his running power early on. But he looked exhausted as the second half went on, played the full 90 and picked up a needless booking for a reaction on 68 minutes. Plenty will ask why he started at all.
Mikel Merino: 7
Wasted two big chances in the first half and was lucky that a VAR review went his way at the other end. He made up for it by choosing to create rather than shoot for the second goal, finding Gyökeres with the pass. Tired in the second half, when Arsenal needed a more natural attacking midfielder in the middle.
Gyökeres leads a lively front three
Noni Madueke: 8
Electric. He opened the scoring after nine minutes, holding off his defender and putting the ball between the goalkeeper’s legs. He ran the Slavia defence ragged with his direct play, could easily have had an assist or two and worked hard off the ball. Replaced by Max Dowman in stoppage time.
Eberechi Eze: 7
Full of confidence. Tomáš Vlček ended up just kicking him, and Eze came close to scoring after some lovely footwork. He was unlucky not to be involved in a goal and faded after the break before making way on 62 minutes. Performances like this are how he wins back regular minutes.
Viktor Gyökeres: 9
A statement night. Viktor Gyökeres set up Madueke with a clever reverse pass in behind, the kind of ball that is becoming his trademark, then played a quick one-two with Merino and curled a lovely finish in off the post from a tight angle for the second. His link-up play was the best it has been for Arsenal.
The numbers back it up. He now has eight goal involvements (five goals, three assists) in his last ten starts in all competitions, and 16 in the Champions League (12 goals, four assists). Among Swedish players, only Zlatan Ibrahimović has more. Arteta’s praise for his striker is in his post-match verdict on the second half, and he went off to a deserved rest on 78 minutes.
Arsenal substitutes vs Slavia Prague
Cristhian Mosquera: 6
Came on for the booked Konsa on 62 minutes and dealt well with seeing the win out.
Christos Tzolis: 6
Replaced Eze on 62 minutes and found his routes to goal blocked, once by his own team-mate.
Jurriën Timber: 5
Came on for White on 78 minutes and struggled with the crosses coming down his side.
Martin Ødegaard: 6
Replaced Gyökeres on 78 minutes and went straight into the action, with some nice passes and touches in a short cameo.
Max Dowman: N/A
On for Madueke in the third minute of stoppage time, too late to rate.
Verdict: a 9 up front, but the second half is the worry
Gyökeres, Madueke and Zubimendi gave Arsenal the kind of first half that should have put the game to bed. That it did not is down to the drop after the break, and Gabriel and Raya had to bail the side out.
For us, the big winner is Zubimendi. Arteta has plenty of options in midfield, but on this showing he has earned a start against Hull City at the Emirates on Saturday. The team news for that one is in our Arsenal injury news vs Hull City, and Saliba’s return would leave Arteta with more selection calls than he has had all season.
