Arsenal continued their 100% start to the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League campaign with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Slavia Prague on Tuesday evening, SportPremi Reports.
Bukayo Saka opened the scoring in the first half, before makeshift striker Mikel Merino scored twice in the second half to give the English side a comfortable victory over their opponents, who were missing Nigerian defender Igoh Ogbu.
The Gunners move temporarily to first position in the UCL standings ahead of other fixtures, while Slavia Prague remain winless from four matches.
Ogbu absent as Slavia Prague fall to Arsenal
Slavia Prague manager Jindrich Trpisovsky had lamented over the unavailability of Nigerian defender Igoh Ogbu ahead of the match.
It proved to be very costly as they could not contain a very lethal Arsenal attack that showed their threat from set-pieces once again.
The visitors were also without Victor Gyokeres and Gabriel Martinelli, with both players ruled out until after the international break.
They piled early pressure on the home side, but Bukayo Saka was denied in quick succession by Slavia goalkeeper Markovic.
Arsenal were then awarded a spot-kick by the Video Assistant Referee midway into the first half, following a handball in the Slavia Prague’s box.
Bukayo Saka stepped up and fired emphatically into the back of the net to give his side a 1-0 lead.
The Gunners doubled their lead just 36 seconds into the second half when makeshift center forward Mikel Merino converted from a Leandro Trossard assist.
The Spaniard doubled his tally and scored his side’s third in the 68th minute, getting on the end of a Declan Rice’s pass and converting calmly.
Max Dowman then made history in the 73rd minute when he came on as a substitute for Leandro Trossard.
At 15 years and 308 days, the exciting talent became the youngest player to ever feature in the UEFA Champions League, breaking Youssoufa Moukoko’s record of 16 years and 18 days.
The home side then thought they had a way back in the game when they were awarded a penalty, although it was overturned by the Video Assistant Referee.
The game ended 3-0 in favor of Arsenal, who matched on to an eighth consecutive win and clean sheet.
Players Ratings:
Slavia Prague Players Ratings
- Markovic – 5.4
- Vlcek – 6.0
- Chaloupek – 6.4
- Zima – 6.0
- Moses – 6.1
- Zafeiris – 6.1
- Sadilek – 7.2
- Mbodji – 7.1
- Provod – 5.5
- Chory – 5.7
- Sanyang – 7.6
Substitutes
- Chytil – 5.9
- Doudera – 6.3
- Cham – 6.1
- Hashioka – 6.0
- Kusej – 6.1
Arsenal Players Ratings
- Raya – 7.6
- Hincapie – 7.6
- Gabriel – 7.1
- Saliba – 6.8
- Timber – 7.0
- Rice – 8.1
- Norgaard – 6.8
- Nwaneri – 6.8
- Trossard – 7.6
- Merino – 9.0
- Saka – 8.5
Substitutes
- Eze – 6.1
- White – 6.1
- Lewis-Skelly – 6.2
- Dowman – 6.6
Man of the Match
Mikel Merino – (9.0/10) – The Arsenal midfielder played as the makeshift centre forward in the absence of Victor Gyokeres and produced two clinical finishes to give his side a commanding victory.
Key Stats
Ball Possession: Slavia Prague 43% – 57% Arsenal
Total Shots: Slavia Prague 9 – 14 Arsenal
Shots on target: Slavia Prague 1 – 8 Arsenal
Pass Accuracy: Slavia Prague 72% – 80% Arsenal
Corners: Slavia Prague 4 – 7 Arsenal
Records:
Max Dowman became the youngest player ever in the history of the UEFA Champions League when he came on in the second half aged 15 years and 308 days.
What Next?
Slavia Prague are back in action on Sunday when they face Viktoria Plzen in the Czech league.
Arsenal, on the other hand, visit high-flying Sunderland in the English Premier League on Saturday evening.
