Slavia's domestic revival has yet to reach Europe
Slavia Prague have won their last domestic match 5-0 but remain without a Champions League victory in 22 consecutive matches. Arsenal arrive with an 18-match unbeaten European run, although Bukayo Saka is unavailable and William Saliba's return gives Mikel Arteta another selection decision.
Slavia Prague have built a strong domestic side, but their European performances remain a different story. Their Champions League winless run has reached 22 matches, stretching back to their first victory in the competition in 2007. The gap between their domestic authority and European results is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
Arsenal should extend their European unbeaten run by controlling the middle third and limiting Slavia's direct attacks.
Their latest European campaign has followed a familiar pattern. Slavia lost 3-2 at home to Lens after conceding twice in stoppage time, then suffered a 2-0 defeat away to Sabah. A 2-2 draw at Fenerbahçe offered some relief, with Pavel Kacor scoring in the 90th minute after the Czech side had fallen two goals behind. Another failure to win would take their sequence to 23 matches and equal the longest winless run in European Cup and Champions League history.
Arsenal arrive with a different European record. They have gone 18 Champions League matches without defeat, winning 13 and drawing five, while keeping 11 clean sheets and conceding only nine goals. Their 1-0 victory at Liverpool also reinforced their position among the leading sides in England. Mikel Arteta has praised Slavia's coaching and competitive mentality, recognising the difficulty of facing a team that has worked under Jindřich Trpišovský for almost a decade.
The visitors will be without Bukayo Saka, but Saliba's return to full training and his inclusion in the travelling squad provide another option at the back. His availability does not guarantee a start, particularly after such a lengthy absence. For Slavia, the challenge is to make their attacking energy count before Arsenal establish control. Their direct approach and ability to move the ball forward quickly could create opportunities, but sustaining that threat against an organised defence will be considerably harder.
