After Wednesday's 2-1 Champions League victory at Slavia Prague, Mikel Arteta accepted full blame for a display he described as "very sloppy" and said Arsenal fell "extremely far from our standards" in the second half.

Noni Madueke scored after nine minutes and Viktor Gyokeres doubled the lead before half-time as the Premier League champions extended their unbeaten start in the competition to four matches — three wins and a draw, ten points. Slavia, who have one point from four games, responded strongly after the interval and pulled a goal back late on.

'Two very different halves'

Speaking at his post-match press conference, Arteta said the first half had been played at "a really high level" in intensity, tempo, quality and clarity, and that his side should have scored "three, four or five" rather than going in two goals ahead. He praised the hosts for their spirit and said the half-time message was that there was still plenty to do because Slavia would take anything they were given.

According to Daily Cannon, Arsenal were told the Czech side would respond, especially because they had not converted their dominance into a bigger advantage, yet they did not heed that warning.

"Right from the beginning of the half, we were extremely far from our standards," Arteta said, adding that his team lost the basics and the concepts they had discussed beforehand. He said some of the reasons for the drop-off would stay private, called the night "a huge lesson", and insisted: "I take full responsibility for the drop in the second half."

Arteta further noted that no other team has played three Champions League away matches and only one at home, but he added that he was reluctant to use that as an excuse since his players had attained the standard he sought before the interval.

Raya: too many giveaways

David Raya gave a similar account to TNT Sports. The goalkeeper said Arsenal "played really, really well" in the first half and could have added to their lead, but that the second period was "completely different" once Slavia raised their intensity.

He identified two causes for the dip: the hosts pressing higher and Arsenal surrendering possession too often, "especially in the final third", with too much running from box to box. Raya said the team have to manage those moments better and keep pushing for a third and fourth goal, adding that he was delighted with the win but that there is "a lot of things to improve going forward".

Early in the second half Raya denied Oskar Kubiak and diverted another Kubiak header against the post prior to Slavia's late consolation; Arsenal Insider points out that this was the first goal Arsenal had ever conceded in the Czech Republic.

The numbers behind the drop-off

The shot counts reported by the outlets do not fully agree. Metro said Slavia produced 18 shots across the match, while Daily Cannon and Arsenal Insider both put the hosts' second-half tally at 17, with Daily Cannon adding that six of those were on target. Arsenal Insider reported that Slavia managed a single shot before the break, and that Arsenal's own total fell from eight in the first half to four in the second.

Arteta's frustration was visible on the touchline throughout, and Arsenal Insider reported that he described the display after the break as "very sloppy" and said "our standard should be higher".

Hull at the Emirates next

Arsenal are back in Premier League action on Saturday, when Hull City visit the Emirates Stadium. Arteta's assessment of the night in Prague suggests he will be looking for a far more complete 90 minutes than the one his side produced after half-time, while Raya's verdict struck the same note: satisfaction with the result, and a clear acknowledgement of what still needs work.

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