Arsenal secured a 2‑1 victory over Slavia Prague on Wednesday night to move onto ten points from four Champions League games, but manager Mikel Arteta was quick to point out that the win did not reflect the performance he expected. Following a commanding opening half, Arsenal were overtaken by a lively Slavia resurgence, and centre‑back Ezri Konsa had to leave the pitch due to a knee injury that may impact the team’s upcoming Premier League clash with Hull City.

Arteta’s half‑time warning

Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Arteta praised his team’s first‑half display, calling it “exceptional at times” and saying the scoreline “should have reflected three or four goals”. However, he warned his players at the break that Slavia “are a team with a huge spirit”. He predicted they would “keep running, keep believing, become even more chaotic, and we didn’t control that at all”. The Czech side’s resurgence proved the warning accurate: after a solitary shot in the first half, Slavia produced 17 attempts after the interval, while Arsenal’s shot count fell from eight before the break to just four afterwards.

A sloppy second half

Arteta admitted Arsenal were “on the back foot, very sloppy” in the second half, conceding possession and failing to keep structure. He highlighted the number of balls given away and poor clearances, noting that “the teams in the Champions League are really good, so a lot to learn”. The manager also hinted that the demanding schedule – three away games in seven days – may have contributed to the dip in intensity, but stressed that the club’s standards must remain higher.

Konsa’s knee injury raises doubts

Centre‑back Ezri Konsa, who started alongside Gabriel Magalhães, was forced off in the hour‑mark after showing signs of discomfort in his knee. Metro UK noted Artvin’s comment: “He is obviously playing a lot, he’s played so many games in the last few weeks.” He was experiencing problems, so we chose to remove him. The Evening Standard echoed this, confirming the substitution was fitness‑related rather than tactical. Having appeared in every one of Arsenal’s 14 matches since joining for £55 million, Konsa was substituted by Cristhian Mosquera. The injury leaves his availability for Saturday’s home game against Hull City in doubt.

Looking ahead to Hull

With the Champions League win secured, Arsenal turn their attention to the Premier League clash with Hull City on Saturday at the Emirates.

Photo: Ronnie Macdonald from Chelmsford, United Kingdom via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0, resized.