Arsenal defeated Slavia Prague 2-1 at the Fortuna Arena on November 4, 2026, with goals from Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres securing nine points from four Champions League-phase matches and moving Mikel Arteta’s side into third place in the table, though a chaotic second half exposed defensive frailties that could haunt them in the knockout phase, the London Evening Standard reported.
The victory extends Arsenal’s unbeaten European away run to 10 matches in the Champions League, a streak unbroken since May 2025, yet it arrived via a route that left Arteta visibly frustrated. His side dominated the opening 45 minutes but conceded 17 second-half shots—the joint-most any opponent has managed against his Arsenal in a single Champions League half—before Wiktor Nowak’s 90th-minute tap-in ended the clean sheet.
Gyokeres Rises in Value as Slavia Prague Faces Historic Futility
- Viktor Gyokeres’ stock rises sharply: After a ten-game goalless start to the season, his brace in three matches (including the Carabao Cup tie against Fleetwood Town) signals a form resurgence, making him a must-own asset despite competition from Kai Havertz for the No. 9 role.
- Arsenal conceded 2.11 xG in the second half against Slavia Prague and required two goal-line clearances to hold on for the 2-1 win.
- Slavia Prague’s historic futility: Equalling the longest winless run in European Cup history (23 games) confirms their league-phase campaign is effectively over, eliminating them from European knockout contention.
Gyokeres Breaks His Ten-Game Drought in Prague
Gyokeres failed to score in his first 10 appearances for Arsenal this campaign, yet his 38th-minute finish—a curling effort off the post following a neat one-two with Mikel Merino—marked his second goal in three outings, Sky Sports noted. The goal moves his Champions League career tally to 16 goal involvements in 25 appearances, comprising 12 goals and four assists, according to Arsenal.com.
💬 "We're happy in certain aspects, but there's still a lot to improve." Mikel reflects on an important win in Prague 👇
Here is what the analytics missed: the opening goal arrived just nine minutes in when Madueke latched onto a Gyokeres through-ball and finished coolly through the legs of goalkeeper Nazar Domchak. Merino was also influential in the first half, seeing a shot from range tipped over and nodding just over from close range when picked out by Gyokeres, Arsenal.com reported.
The Second-Half Collapse That Has Arteta Worried
Slavia Prague generated 17 shots in the second half and accumulated 2.11 expected goals (xG) during that period—the highest any side has produced against Arteta’s Arsenal in a single Champions League half since the 2023/24 season, Arsenal.com reported. Gabriel was forced into two goal-line clearances, while David Raya produced an acrobatic save to deny Oskar Kubiak’s header and another to push a Mikulas Konecny effort onto the post.
💬 "At the stage we’re in right now, we’re in a good spot." Viktor's feeling good after Slavia win 👇
Mikel Arteta did not mince words post-match. “Two very different halves,” he told TNT Sports, as ESPN reported. “The first one, I think we played at a really high level, exceptional at times. The scoreline should have reflected three or four goals. We didn’t do it and at halftime I told them it’s a team with a huge spirit… And we didn’t control that at all, right from the beginning.”
“The second half we were on the back foot, very sloppy. We gave so many balls away, so many bad clearances, we didn’t keep the ball or the structure at all. Then you have to suffer because the teams in the Champions League are really good, so there’s a lot to learn.” — Mikel Arteta, TNT Sports
Raya echoed the sentiment, telling TNT Sports: “First half, we played really well. We dominated the whole game, creating a lot of chances and could have scored a few more goals. The second half was a completely different half.” He added that Slavia “started pressing a little bit higher with a bit more intensity,” catching Arsenal with “too many giveaways, especially in the final third.”
Arsenal hold firm to seal a win in Prague ⏱️#UCL pic.twitter.com/1cTr56gEfX
Slavia’s Record-Breaking Night Ends in Defeat
Slavia Prague equaled the longest winless run in European Cup history with this result, matching the 23-game streak set by AEK Athens between 1989 and 2006 and FCSB between 2006 and 2013, Arsenal.com reported. The Czech side had been looking to avoid equalling that mark, but Nowak’s late consolation goal arrived too late to prevent the unwanted record.
Manager Jindrich Trpisovsky also broke the record for the longest winless run by a manager in the competition, extending his personal tally to 18 matches without a victory, surpassing Oleg Romantsev’s 17 with Spartak Moscow between December 2000 and November 2002.
Nine Points From Four: Arsenal’s Path Forward
With nine points from four matches, Arsenal sit third in the league-phase table, having also secured a 2-2 draw with Bayern Munich on October 21, when Declan Rice snatched a point late on, according to Sports Mole. The Gunners have now won 13 matches across all competitions this season, the joint-highest tally in Europe’s big five leagues alongside Barcelona and Real Madrid, Arsenal.com noted.
However, the defensive frailties exposed in Prague—compounded by the absence of William Saliba, who remains sidelined with a back injury until at least November 21, and Bukayo Saka, ruled out until December 2 with a quad strain, per Sports Mole—suggest the squad may need reinforcements if they are to sustain a deep run into the knockout phase.
The immediate focus shifts to domestic matters. Arsenal return to Premier League action on Saturday, November 21, with a trip to Newcastle United, a fixture that will test the squad’s mettle following the international break and ahead of the remaining league-phase fixtures that will determine their seeding for the knockout rounds.
Disclaimer: The fantasy and market insights provided are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute financial or betting advice.
⚽️ Noni Madueke ⚽️ Viktor Gyokeres A 2-1 win away at Slavia Praha takes @Arsenal up to third in the league phase of the Champions League 🥉 pic.twitter.com/rgX3gdSYn8
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Half-Time Report: Slavia Prague 0-2 Arsenal lead at the Fortuna Arena after a controlled first half in Matchday 4 of the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League. Viktor Gyökeres has been the standout performer, combining an assist with a goal of his own. Arsenal look…
Arsenal survive a late scare to claim a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Slavia Prague in the UEFA Champions League.#PTVSports #UCL #Arsenal #SlaviaPrague pic.twitter.com/802XxIBQjy
