🚩🔻Slavia Prague 0–3 Arsenal: The Gunners make history with their eighth consecutive victory without letting in a goal. Merino shines with a rating of 9, while Saka follows closely with 8.

Arsenal marched through the Champions League like a team possessed, tearing past Slavia Prague with a flawless 3–0 win at the Fortuna Arena. This result didn’t just add another victory to their record—it tied a century-old club milestone, marking eight straight wins without conceding a single goal. With Viktor Gyökeres sidelined, Mikel Merino stepped up brilliantly as an improvised striker, bagging a brace, while Bukayo Saka led by example, calmly slotting home from the penalty spot. The Gunners now sit comfortably on top of their group with twelve points and a defensive wall that hasn’t cracked once—something no English team has done since Leeds United back in 1970.

 

The match began with Slavia Prague charging forward, fueled by their passionate home crowd. For a few fleeting moments, Arsenal looked shaky under the early pressure. But Mikel Arteta’s side has grown into a ruthless machine, as he later put it, and they soon found their rhythm. With precise passing and icy composure, they soaked up the attack and began dismantling their opponents one movement at a time.

 

The breakthrough arrived in the 32nd minute, once again through a set piece—one of Arsenal’s favorite weapons this season. Gabriel Magalhães flicked on Saka’s curling corner, the ball striking Lukáš Provod’s arm. After a brief VAR check, Saka stepped up and buried the penalty with ease. It was his fifth of the season and his fourth straight away goal in the competition, reaffirming his place as Arsenal’s consistent game-changer.

 

The Gunners wasted no time killing off the game after the break. Just seconds into the second half, Leandro Trossard found space on the left and delivered a sharp cross that Merino guided neatly into the net. The Spanish midfielder looked every bit the natural striker, and his confidence only grew. Twenty minutes later, he delivered a moment of audacity—meeting Declan Rice’s lofted pass with a delicate backwards header over the keeper to seal the deal.

 

Slavia briefly thought they might pull one back when Ben White was called for a high boot late in the match, but VAR stepped in again, overturning the decision and keeping Arsenal’s clean sheet intact. The Czech side could only muster one tame effort on target all evening, comfortably handled by David Raya, who barely broke a sweat throughout the 90 minutes.

 

The night also made history in another way. Fifteen-year-old Max Dowman came off the bench to replace Trossard, becoming the youngest player ever to feature in a Champions League match. Academy teammate Andre Harriman-Annous also got his first taste of European football, capping off what felt like a glimpse into Arsenal’s bright future.

 

After the match, Arteta was all smiles, praising both the veterans and the debutants. “This competition demands maturity,” he said, “and even at fifteen, Max showed no fear—he went right at defenders.” Slavia’s manager could only nod in admiration, admitting that Arsenal are “the most balanced team in the world right now.”

 

Player ratings reflected the dominance: Gabriel and Merino stood tallest with nines, Saka dazzled again with an eight, and Rice orchestrated play like a general. Arsenal’s defensive line remained unbreachable, equaling the historic streaks of Preston in 1889 and Liverpool in 1920. With Sunderland awaiting in the Premier League and European knockouts on the horizon, the message was clear—this Arsenal side isn’t just good; they’re writing a new chapter in football history.