By SCM Sports Writer I Tuesday, Nov. 04, 2025
PRAGUE – MIKEL ARTETA’S Arsenal machine roared on last night, delivering a brutal 3-0 masterclass against Slavia Prague to equal a 122-year-old defensive record and leave them sitting pretty at the top of the Champions League.
It was the Merino show at the Fortuna Arena as the stand-in striker—filling the massive boots of injured Viktor Gyokeres—bagged a brilliant second-half double to sink the Czech champions.
The Gunners’ victory marks a stunning EIGHTH consecutive clean sheet, matching a defensive feat last achieved all the way back in 1903! And to rub salt in the wounds, Arsenal have now won four from four in Europe without conceding a single goal.
The breakthrough came just after the half-hour mark when skipper-for-the-night Bukayo Saka coolly slotted home a VAR-awarded penalty. Slavia star Lukas Provod was deemed to have handled a Gabriel header, and Saka made no mistake from the spot.
But if the Czechs thought they were still in the fight at the break, they were wrong.
Merino delivered a lightning-fast knockout blow just 36 SECONDS after the restart, volleying home from close range after a pinpoint Leandro Trossard cross.
The Spaniard then completed his stunning brace on 68 minutes, rising high to meet a Declan Rice delivery, beating the stranded Slavia keeper Jakub Markovic to the ball and nodding into the unguarded net. A true poacher’s finish!
The near-perfect night was capped when 15-year-old academy wonderkid Max Dowman was thrown into the fray late on.
The schoolboy star made Champions League history by becoming the youngest player ever to feature in the competition.
Arteta’s side are now firing on all cylinders, making it ten wins on the bounce across all competitions. This is a team built for domination.
Slavia Prague: (0) 0
Arsenal: Saka (pen 32), Merino (46, 68) (3)
Next Up for Arsenal: Sunderland (Away) – Saturday.
