SLAVIA PRAGUE 1-2 ARSENAL: The Premier League champions made light work of their Czech opponents as Viktor Gyokeres scored and provided an assist

Arsenal secured victory over Slavia Prague as Viktor Gyokeres helped the Gunners remain in touch of the Champions League summit.

The Premier League champions were firm favourites to claim all three points in the Czech capital and Noni Madueke had them ahead after just eight minutes. Viktor Gyokeres, provider of the opening goal, then got in on the act himself with a stunning finish.

The Gunners were involved in much more of a fight in the second-half and had to navigate a nervous final five minutes after Wiktor Nowak scored from close range to give Slavia Prague hope.

Arsenal, runners-up in Europe last season, are looking to go one step further and their win ensures they're only two points off the top two, who are the only sides with perfect records after four games.

Arsenal secured victory in Prague a year ago and began in dominant fashion. Madueke's pace saw him latch onto a through ball from Gyokeres and the winger was able to compose himself before opening the scoring inside ten minutes.

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For all their possession dominance Arsenal didn't pepper the Slavia Prague goal, but did double their lead on 37 minutes as Gyokeres showed huge confidence. The Swede continued to have his doubters but a give and go with Mikel Merino allowed him to open up his body and finish impressively, with a helping hand from the post.

The hosts began the second-half with renewed energy and Oskar Kubiak's effort from distance forced David Raya into one of his few saves for the night. Arsenal did eventually wrestle back control, but with the Czech side posing so little threat the need for a third goal was minimal.

Slavia Prague saw appeals for a penalty against Mikel Merino waved away with a quarter of an hour remaining, but did eventually give their fans something to cheer in injury time when Nowak tapped home from a David Jurasek cross, but it would only prove to be a consolation.

GYOKERES DELIGHTS ARTETA

An assist and a goal in the first-half was the perfect platform for the Arsenal striker who, seemingly every time he takes to the pitch, has to respond to his critics. The jury is still out on whether the Swede will be the man who regularly leads the Gunners' line.

But on Wednesday night the Swede was in full flow, and Arteta was jumping for joy when he saw Gyokeres double the Arsenal lead, with his faith in his striker unwavering. The Arsenal boss has continued to public back the former Sporting Lisbon, and rarely has he celebrated a second goal in a relatively routine game with such excitement.

Gyokeres has long looked like a confidence player and Wednesday's outing will have done him no harm as he continues to battle with Kai Havertz. The two have shared the role of leading the Arsenal attack, each bringing very different qualities.

The Gunners spent huge sums of Gyokeres, who was yet to prove himself in a major European league before Arteta came calling. They naturally want a return on that investment and the Arsenal boss is certainly content to persevere. It's not like we haven't seen what quality he offers, the frustration is how often we see it.

STILL BUILDING

No team has played more games in the Champions League than Arsenal without winning it. But all the signs point to the north Londoners being as well equipped as they ever have been to end that wait.

There's a litany of teams who have lost a final before going on to win in the following year - Liverpool in 2019 the most recent example. Arsenal will hope to follow them and they've enjoyed growth in this tournament season after season under Arteta.

Three years ago Bayern Munich ended their hopes in the last eight, the following year it was semi-final heartbreak at the hands of PSG and last year's loss, to the French giants once again, is well documented.

It does seem though that this Arsenal team are learning what it takes to excel in the Champions League with each passing year. They were mighty impressive in the league phase last term as they boasted a 100 percent record, but so many teams have shown that you're better off peaking post the New Year, not before it.

UNWANTED HISTORY

Slavia Prague made history on Wednesday night, just not the kind they would like as their winless run was extended to 23 games. That includes eight draws, but the majority of those are of course defeats.

Their reverse at the hands of Arsenal means they have now gone 23 Champions League games without a win since they claimed victory in their first ever game in the competition back in 2007.

The loss has now equalled the longest winless run in European Cup history, matching the forgettable runs registered by both AEK Athens (1989-2006) and Steaua Bucharest (2006-2013).

Fans who flocked to the Fortuna Arena were charged for the privilege of watching the Czechs set unwanted history. The Premier League champions are of course a draw and, once converted, the home side were charging more than £120 to watch Rice, Gabriel and co do their thing.