Viktor Gyökeres soars in rare start as Arsenal move up to third in Champions League table

The 42

Slavia Prague 1

Arsenal 2

VIKTOR GYÖKERES GRASPED his opportunity as Arsenal beat Slavia Prague 2-1 in the Champions League.

Gyökeres made the most of a rare start, his sixth of the season, with an assist and a stylish goal as the Gunners climbed to third in the Champions League table.

Noni Madueke scored the opener and Arsenal were cruising until the closing stages, when Wiktor Nowak pulled one back to leave Mikel Arteta’s men hanging on in stoppage time.

The Slavia goalkeeper then had to come out and block from Gyökeres, tip Merino’s drive over the crossbar and make a fine reflex save from the Spain international.

Arsenal had a mild scare eight minutes before half-time when Tomáš Holeš got free in the area at a long throw and poked his shot wide.

But the Premier League champions immediately went up the other end and doubled their lead through Gyökeres.

The Sweden striker exchanged passes with Merino as he made his way into the area before opening up his body and clipping the ball across Nazar Domchak and in off the far post.

It was the 28-year-old’s first Champions League goal from open play since he scored against Kairat Almaty in January.

Arsenal were almost caught cold seconds after the break when Oskar Kubiak got forward and forced David Raya into his first save of the match.

Madueke almost had a second after more good play from Gyökeres, who held up Declan Rice’s pass before laying the ball off to Christos Tzolis.

Fit-again Tzolis fed Madueke out on the right and his fierce angled drive was blocked by the chest of Domchak.

Arsenal retreated for the remainder of the match and Gabriel had to clear a header from Slavia substitute Ange N’Guessan off the goalline.

The VAR checked for a potential penalty after Merino knocked over Nowak as they challenged for the rebound, but it was deemed an accidental clash of heads.

In an unnecessarily nervous ending, Raya had to make a full-stretch save to push Kubiak’s header against a post.

And the Gunners lost their clean sheet when Nowak converted David Jurásek’s cross for a deserved consolation for the hosts.

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