Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal: Gunners remain perfect with solid Champions League victory | OneFootball

North Londoners were without two key players

Bukayo Saka and Mikel Merino were the goalscorers in the Czech capital as Mikel Arteta’s side continued their unbeaten start to their European campaign.

The visitors are now four wins from four in Europe’s top competition, and they have still not conceded a goal on the continent.

The north Londoners rode out the early storm from the hosts, who were buoyed by a raucous home support, but the Gunners grew into the game and took the lead after VAR adjudged Lukas Provod to have handled a Saka corner.

The Arsenal captain stroked home from the spot on 32 minutes, and they deservedly went in ahead at the break.

They needed just 40 seconds to notch a second, with Merino tucking home a Leandro Trossard cross inside the opening minute of the second 45.

The Spaniard had his second of the encounter when Declan Rice floated a hopeful ball into the box, and home goalkeeper Jakub Markovic misjudged the flight of the ball, with makeshift centre-forward Merino meeting it first to nod into the unguarded net.

Arsenal survived a late scare when the referee pointed to the penalty spot after Ben White dangled a high foot to challenge for a bouncing ball with Provod, but VAR overruled the decision.

Max Dowman wrote himself further into the history books as he became the youngest ever player to play in the Champions League at the age of just 15 years and 308 days.

The Gunners performed well despite the absences of some key names, including midfield orchestrator Martin Zubimendi and star striker Viktor Gyokeres, who will have a hamstring issue assessed in the coming days.

Next up for Arteta is a tricky trip to high-flying Sunderland, before north London derby fever grips the capital next weekend.