Arsenal won 2-1 at Slavia Prague on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, but the manager was not happy. Mikel Arteta was critical of his side’s second-half display, even though the win took Arsenal to three victories from four Champions League league-phase games. Here is what happened and what it tells us.
Slavia Prague 1-2 Arsenal: the match in brief
According to Sky Sports, Noni Madueke scored in the ninth minute and Viktor Gyokeres added a second in the 38th, leaving Arsenal in control at the Fortuna Arena. Slavia’s Wiktor Nowak pulled one back in the 90th minute, setting up a tense finish. Sky describes the win as one where Arsenal survived a second-half scare.
Quick facts
- Result: Slavia Prague 1-2 Arsenal, Champions League league phase, Matchday 4
- Arsenal scorers: Noni Madueke (9′), Viktor Gyokeres (38′)
- Slavia scorer: Wiktor Nowak (90′)
- Table: Arsenal third on 10 points (101 Great Goals); Slavia 34th on one point (Al Jazeera)
Why Mikel Arteta was critical of the second half
Sky Sports reports that Arteta criticised the second-half performance after the match. This is a common pattern for managers who win but see warning signs: a lead that was built early is easy to lose when the team stops passing well and gives the ball away. We will not put words in his mouth beyond what Sky has published, so read the full article for his exact comments.
From a tactical point of view, a team that scores twice in 38 minutes and then drops deep invites pressure. That is a reasonable reading of the scoreline, but it is our own analysis, not something Arsenal have confirmed.
Arsenal’s Champions League position
Arsenal sit third in the 36-team table on 10 points, behind PSG and Real Madrid on 12 each, according to 101 Great Goals. Three wins from four games puts them in a strong position to finish in the top eight and skip the knockout play-off round.
Their domestic form helps too. Arsenal beat Liverpool 1-0 on Sunday, according to 101 Great Goals, so they come into the next Premier League fixture with momentum. They face Hull City on Saturday, November 7, according to the Premier League fixture list, which is subject to change.
The injury report: what is actually known
Sky Sports’ newspaper roundup on Thursday cited the Daily Mail with a headline claiming Arteta has used NASA, along with Google and Apple, to tackle Arsenal’s injury problems. Sky’s page gives only the headline, so this is a newspaper report, not a confirmed club statement, and we cannot say which players are involved.
Gyokeres and Madueke: the scorers
Madueke’s early goal gave Arsenal the lead and set the tone for a strong first half, with Gyokeres adding the second before the break. Between them they gave Arsenal the cushion that proved essential when Slavia pushed late. Goals from different attackers are a good sign for a team that wants to stay near the top of both the league phase and the Premier League.
What to take from the win
Winning on the road in Europe is hard, and Arsenal did it without needing a perfect performance. Yet Arteta’s reaction shows the standard he wants. If the team can combine the first-half level with the second-half control, they will be tough to stop.
Read our full Matchday 4 results for the other scores, and see more in Tactics & Analysis.
The next test comes quickly, so watch whether Arsenal start the second half more sharply on Saturday.
Sources: Sky Sports, 101 Great Goals, Al Jazeera (Reuters), Premier League. Article date: November 6, 2026.
