Slavia Prague vs Arsenal player ratings, Champions League: First-half goals from Madueke, Gyokeres enough for Gunners win

Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres celebrates scoring their second goal with Mikel Merino and Noni Madueke. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres scored in the first half to hand Arsenal a 2-1 win at Slavia Prague in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Arsenal got back to winning ways in Europe after a 2-2 draw at Bayern Munich last month, reaching 10 points from four Champions League games so far, while Slavia has a single point in the standings.

The Premier League champion was quick to take control of the game in chilly conditions in the Czech capital.

Madueke reaped the rewards on nine minutes. Gyokeres controlled David Raya’s long clearance with his chest and passed the ball instinctively to Madueke sprinting behind him down the right flank.

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Madueke left the Slavia back four behind him with ease and beat diving Ukrainian teenager Nazar Domchak in the Slavia goal with a low shot.

Gyokeres, one of six changes in Mikel Arteta’s starting line-up from Sunday’s 1-0 win at Liverpool, made it 2-0 on 38 minutes.

He beat Domchak with a neat shot off the far post after a one-two with Mikel Merino on the edge of the Slavia box.

Slavia scored a consolation goal in the 90th minute when David Jurasek’s cross bounced through the Arsenal defence and Wiktor Nowak blasted the ball into the net from close range.

Slavia Praha vs Arsenal player ratings

Slavia Prague: Domchak - 6.4, Vlček - 5.7, Holeš - 6.7, Zima - 7.2, Kubiak - 6.6, Moses - 6.5, Sadílek - 7.2, Ayaosi - 6.1, Suleiman - 6.1, Šturm - 6.4, Nowak - 7.1

Substitutes: N’Guessan - 7.1, Chytil - 6.4, Konečný - 6.8, Jurásek - 7.0, Chaloupek (NA)

Arsenal: Gyökeres - 8.4, Eze - 7.3, Merino - 7.9, Madueke - 8.3, Rice - 7.6, Zubimendi - 8.0, Hincapié - 7.6, Gabriel - 7.9, Konsa - 7.2, White - 7.3, Raya - 8.4

Substitutes: Mosquera - 6.4, Tzolis - 6.5, Timber - 6.1, Odegaard - 6.0, Dowman (NA)