Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta reveals concerns with Champions League win over Slavia Prague

Arsenal beat Slavia Prague 3-1 in the Champions League but Arteta expressed serious concerns about a poor second-half display marked by sloppiness and defensive lapses.

Arsenal secured a 3-1 Champions League victory over Slavia Prague but manager Mikel Arteta was far from satisfied with the performance. The Gunners dominated the first half, leading 2-0 through goals from Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres, and could have extended their advantage further with chances for Merino and Eze.

However, Arsenal's second-half display was drastically different. Arteta described the team as "very sloppy" and "extremely far from our standards," with poor ball retention, careless clearances, and a lack of structure allowing Slavia to dominate possession. Wiktor Nowak's goal set up a tense finish, with Gabriel forced into a desperate clearance and David Raya producing a world-class save to tip a header onto the post.

Despite holding on for the win, Arteta made clear the performance was unacceptable. "We didn't control that at all," he said. "A lot to learn." Slavia registered 17 shots compared to Arsenal's 12, highlighting how much the visitors struggled to manage the game after the interval.