Arsenal’s unbeaten start in Europe remains intact following a composed 3-0 victory at Slavia Prague’s Fortuna Arena. Manager Mikel Arteta made several changes to the lineup that defeated Burnley 2-0, giving rare starts to Piero Hincapie along with Mikel Merino, Ethan Nwaneri, and Christian Norgaard. This away trip had the feel of a school trip, minus the awkward uniforms.
Match Overview
After a cautious opening 15 minutes, Bukayo Saka broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute by calmly converting a penalty, marking his fifth goal of the season. This goal allowed Arsenal to gain control heading into halftime, enabling them to play with confidence.
In the second half, Merino stood out in the absence of Viktor Gyokeres, who was sidelined due to a muscle issue. The Spaniard added two goals to his tally: a tidy finish shortly after the break and a poacher’s strike that capped an excellent performance.
Winners
Piero Hincapie
Injuries and the solid defensive partnership of Gabriel and William Saliba limited Hincapie’s minutes since his summer transfer. However, playing as a full-back in Prague, the 23-year-old seized his opportunity with an impressive performance. Hincapie excelled by:
- Winning all six of his ground duels
- Completing nearly 75% of his passes (14 out of 19)
His robust defending and daring runs forward made a strong case for more starting opportunities in future matches.
Mikel Merino
Filling in as a makeshift striker, Merino displayed the physical presence and positional awareness expected from a dedicated center-forward. His contributions included:
- Holding up play and frustrating Slavia’s defenders
- Delivering 73% accuracy in passing (22 out of 30 attempts)
- Drawing three fouls and winning four aerial duels
Merino’s brace not only showcased his scoring ability but also reminded everyone that he can effectively replace Gyokeres without missing a beat.
Losers
Ethan Nwaneri
The Carabao Cup hero had a tough time replicating his previous form during his first Champions League start. Playing centrally, he struggled to find space and possession, which led to:
- Losing the ball six times
- Completing only two key passes in 65 minutes
- A low success rate in ground duels (2 out of 7)
This performance serves as a learning opportunity for Nwaneri, and Arteta will expect greater composure in upcoming matches.
Christian Norgaard
Signed from Brentford to fill a deep-lying midfield role, Norgaard hoped to impress on a big stage. Unfortunately, he appeared sluggish in his passing and slow to read the game. His performance included:
- Uninspiring play given the £15 million investment
- More cup outings than he may have anticipated
This outing was disappointing, leaving him with room for improvement.
Conclusion
Arsenal returns home with their perfect record in the group stage intact and newfound confidence as they prepare for the weekend. If only every away match could be this straightforward. Arteta may want to send Hincapie a get-well card, considering those ground duels surely prepared him for medieval jousting.