Slavia Prague boss Jindrich Trpisovsky issues Arsenal verdict after Champions League defeat

Reflecting on the defeat, which saw Slavia become the first team in Champions League history to not win for 23 matches, Trpisovsky heaped praise on the Premier League champions but felt his half time changes made a massive difference.

“At half-time, we had a long and honest discussion,” he told UEFA. “The substitutions worked well, and the change in formation made a difference. We started the second half strongly. In the first half, we were too far away from our opponents and Arsenal had a clear edge.

Blueprint for Slavia Prague after Arsenal loss: Jindrich Trpisovsky

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“They gave us a footballing lesson, but after the break we got much closer to them. We fought for every ball, competed hard and played with real intensity.

"We all felt that the second half was much better. We got a goal, and I believed we would create a few more chances. I'm pleased that we were able to give the fans something to celebrate with that goal.

"These are hugely valuable experiences for us. In the first half, we showed too much respect for the quality of our opponents. The second half, however, showed us the way forward and gave us a blueprint for future matches."