Mikel Merino scored twice as Arsenal thrashed Slavia Prague 3-0, sending the Gunners top of the Champions League. The Spanish striker, making his second successive start in place of injured Viktor Gyokeres, found space to exploit with his quick thinking and finishing skills.
Arsenal's dominant display was marked by a lack of concern for their opponents' best efforts to score. Lukas Provod fired the hosts' best chance from a good position wide before Arsenal slowly gained control of the game. Bukayo Saka was denied three times, but eventually got his break via a corner.
The breakthrough came on 35 minutes as Leandro Trossard's cross found Merino unmarked and he easily slotted in. Merino then sealed the win with a second goal in the 37th minute after Declan Rice headed into the box.
Despite their defensive solidity, Slavia Prague were forced to concede three goals without ever really threatening. Mikel Arteta praised his team's depth and tactical acumen: "It's a joy to have him [Merino]. His versatility on the pitch, the things he can do...Mikel hadn't played there in his career but we had experience last season with how he reacted."
Arsenal manager Arteta also highlighted Merino's ability to identify space and attack it. He was supported by Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard, who scored their respective goals.
For Arsenal, this win propelled them to the top of the Champions League and maintained their impressive run of eight consecutive clean sheets in all competitions.
Arsenal's dominant display was marked by a lack of concern for their opponents' best efforts to score. Lukas Provod fired the hosts' best chance from a good position wide before Arsenal slowly gained control of the game. Bukayo Saka was denied three times, but eventually got his break via a corner.
The breakthrough came on 35 minutes as Leandro Trossard's cross found Merino unmarked and he easily slotted in. Merino then sealed the win with a second goal in the 37th minute after Declan Rice headed into the box.
Despite their defensive solidity, Slavia Prague were forced to concede three goals without ever really threatening. Mikel Arteta praised his team's depth and tactical acumen: "It's a joy to have him [Merino]. His versatility on the pitch, the things he can do...Mikel hadn't played there in his career but we had experience last season with how he reacted."
Arsenal manager Arteta also highlighted Merino's ability to identify space and attack it. He was supported by Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard, who scored their respective goals.
For Arsenal, this win propelled them to the top of the Champions League and maintained their impressive run of eight consecutive clean sheets in all competitions.
i remember back in my day when we used to watch george Graham's team dominate the competition, but that was a different era lol 
these young guns are killing it with mikel merino scoring 2 goals and all 
i'm so glad they finally got their act together and started winning consistently. bukayo saka is looking good too, always been a fan of his skills 
but what's up with the slavia prague team? seemed like they just phoned it in out there 
anyway, congrats to arsenal on top spot and 8 consecutive clean sheets! that's some serious consistency 
I mean, come on, can't they optimize this thing? I was excited to share my thoughts about Arsenal's win against Slavia Prague, but the loading screen is literally killing me. Anyway, back to Mikel Merino - what a gem for the Gunners! His goal-scoring spree is like music to my ears 
. The way he exploited space and finished with precision is pure artistry. And that Arteta's praise on him? Spot on, mate 
. Now, if only the forum could keep up with my fast typing... 
! And to see Bukayo Saka deny those three chances only made him more hyped when he finally scored 
. Arteta's got some serious tactical magic up his sleeve, too - Merino's versatility on the pitch is a breath of fresh air 
! Now we're really in the hunt for that Champions League title 
!
, he just found space and slotted it home like a pro 
. Arteta's praises are well-deserved tho 
, the guy is a game-changer for this team! He brought that extra oomph to their attack and his finishing skills are insane 
! Slavia Prague just didn't stand a chance against this team 
️ I mean, it's cool that Mikel Merino scored twice and they're top of the Champions League now, but come on, it was like they were playing a different game altogether 
still can't believe he finally got that break and scored... Leandro Trossard and Declan Rice were the real MVPs though 
. Mikel Arteta's got some magic words for Merino, but I think it's more about how he adapted to the team's system 
his speed and agility are insane! i love how he can play anywhere on the field, it's like he has a sixth sense for finding space. 
arteta's tactics are so cool too, they're really good at creating chances and exploiting space. 
this win is super important for arsenal's top spot in the group stage 
And don't even get me started on Slavia Prague's chances, Lukas Provod came so close from wide out 
I mean, it's clear Mikel Arteta knows his stuff now 
he praised Merino's versatility which is true but then again, what if we saw him start in a different position and how would that affect the game? 
? I'm saying maybe their defense was solid but their attack was basically nonexistent 
. and arteta's praise is well-deserved, this guy is a game-changer 
. and bukayo saka getting those 3 chances is just amazing 
. it's clear he's got a great eye for spotting space and getting into position 
. and that goal from leandro trossard was a beauty 
mikel arteta made the right call starting him over gyokeres 
️ trossard's goal was nice but let's not forget merino's 2 goals 
. They need to start playing some real football, not just relying on their defense and fancy passing drills 
.
Arteta's tactics are pure genius 
. And Saka & Trossard's support was key too