Arsenal extended their unbeaten run and equalled a club record of eight consecutive clean sheets as they cruised to a 3-0 victory over Slavia Prague in the Champions League.
Mikel Merino, starting as a makeshift striker, scored twice while Bukayo Saka netted from the spot to secure another comfortable European win for Mikel Arteta’s side.
As it happened
The hosts made a lively start and caused Arsenal some early problems, pressing high and testing the Gunners defence without forcing David Raya into a save.
Arsenal soon settled and began to find their rhythm. From a corner, VAR advised referee Aliyar Aghayev to go to the monitor for a possible handball. After a quick check, the penalty was awarded and Saka confidently sent Jakub Markovič the wrong way to give Arsenal the lead.
Just 30 seconds after half time, Arsenal doubled their advantage. Declan Rice played the ball wide to Leandro Trossard, who beat his man on the outside before delivering a perfect left footed cross for Merino to finish from close range.
Midway through the second half, Arsenal struck again and once more it was Merino. Rice’s teasing cross was misjudged by Markovič, allowing the Spaniard to guide a header into the net for his second of the night.
Slavia thought they had a late route to goal when the referee awarded a penalty for a high foot by substitute Ben White. However, after another VAR review, the decision was overturned. The Czech side’s only shot on target came in stoppage time, a tame deflected effort straight at Raya.
Arsenal saw the game out with ease to equal the club’s 121 year old record for consecutive clean sheets. They move to the top of their Champions League league phase ahead of the rest of the matchday fixtures. The Gunners travel to Sunderland on Saturday with hope of continuing their impressive run domestically.
Slavia Prague battled bravely and showed flashes of promise, but they were ultimately outclassed by the Premier League leaders. They return to domestic action with a trip to Viktoria Plzeň on Sunday.
The line-ups
SLA: Markovič; Vlček, Chaloupek, Zima; Moses, Zafeiris, Sadílek, Mbodji; Provod, Chorý, Sanyang
ARS: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapié; Nørgaard, Rice, Nwaneri; Saka, Merino, Trossard