Arsenal extended their winning streak to 10 games in all competitions with two goals from makeshift center forward Mikel Merino and a strike from Bukayo Saka who beat Slavia Prague and maintained their 100% Champions League record.
The Gunners were pushed early on by Slavia, but once Saka put them ahead from the penalty spot after 32 minutes, it was largely one-way traffic.
Any hopes Slavia had of a second-half comeback were effectively dashed within 30 seconds of the restart when Merino, starting in place of the injured Viktor Gyokeres, scored with a volley.
And the Spain international made it 3-0 after 69 minutes to complete another satisfying evening for Arsenal, who had the luxury of bringing on Max Dowman 17 minutes from time. At 15 years and 308 days, Dowman became the youngest player to ever appear in the Champions League.
Saka makes the breakthrough
Gabriel has been instrumental in several Arsenal goals recently, thanks in large part to his aerial prowess from set pieces, but the Brazilian almost silenced the boisterous home crowd after two minutes with a superb volley from the edge of the box that flew past Jakub Markovic’s left post.
Slavia responded with Lukas Provod rushing forward and shooting narrowly. And the hosts’ high pressing continued to destabilize the Gunners, with Youssoupha Mbodji next to try his luck from long range.
Arsenal were struggling to do much in attack, but in Saka they have a useful outlet and the England winger forced Markovic into a save after 21 minutes with a curling left-footed effort.
Markovic saved Saka again five minutes later, deflecting his shot wide and causing a flurry of corners that eventually led to the first goal.
Saka’s shot was headed towards goal by Gabriel but it hit Provod and, following VAR intervention, a penalty was awarded for handball. Saka made no mistake, burying his shot powerfully into the bottom right corner.
Arsenal had finally regained the intensity that had taken them to the top of the Premier League and Leandro Trossard and Saka both had efforts smuggled out by the suddenly overworked Slavia defence.
Double merino
The home fans barely had time to return to their seats after the restart when Arsenal killed off the game. The Slavia defense failed to recover Trossard and his cross was perfect for Merino to finish with aplomb.
Saka should have made it 3-0 after 61 minutes but, after collecting Declan Rice’s pass, he shot weakly at Markovic with his right foot.
Arsenal almost paid with only a last-ditch tackle from Gabriel denying substitute Mojmir Chytil a simple finish.
Merino added his second of the night after combining with Rice. The former West Ham midfielder launched a ball into the area that looked destined to fall into Markovic’s hands, but Merino bit in front of the goalkeeper to deflect the ball home.
Slavia thought they had won a penalty late on when Ben White tangled with Provod inside the area but, after initially awarding the spot-kick, referee Aliyar Aghayev overturned his decision after reviewing the incident on the pitch monitor.
Arsenal’s clean sheet remained intact and they have now gone eight matches without conceding a goal.
