Arsenal 1-1 Slavia Prague: Gunners Europa League ambitions hit by late goal

Slavia Prague scored a dramatic stoppage time equaliser to leave Arsenal’s Europa League ambitions hanging in the balance.

But Tomas Holes headed home in the dying moments of the game from close range to give Slavia Prague a precious away goal.

The second leg in Prague takes place next Thursday (20:00 BST).

Gunners have it all to do

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta stated he was in “shock” after his side’s tame 3-0 surrender to Liverpool last weekend, a performance which brought stinging criticism from both fans and pundits.

He reacted by making six changes – three of which were forced – to his starting line-up, with captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang the most high-profile casualty.

Asked about his decision to leave the Gabon forward out, Arteta said he had to pick the “right team to start the game in the best possible way”.

Aubameyang, who has 13 league and cup goals for his club this season but none since 6 March, cut a frustrated figure as he watched Willian, from a free-kick, clip the outside of the post before Alexandre Lacazette raced through, only to hit the bar.

Aubameyang was finally sent on after 78 minutes and made an impact as his pass allowed club-record £72m signing Pepe to race into the box and produce a composed finish past keeper Ondrej Kolar.

But Arsenal failed to see the game out and Hole’s back-post header means Arteta’s side have it all to do against the 2019-20 Czech champions in a week’s time.

Arsenal face big Prague test

With the Gunners lying 10th in the Premier League table, 10 points off a top four spot, winning the Europa League represents their most realistic chance of securing a Champions League spot next season.

They have not graced the Champions League stage since 2016-17 and they face a big test next week if they are to make it through to the semi-finals of Europe’s second-tier club knockout competition.

While this was an improvement on their previous outing, Arsenal rarely looked convincing against opponents who have beaten Leicester City and Rangers this season.

Rob Holding had a header tipped over the bar when the game was goalless, but at the other end Bernd Leno saved Jan Boril’s deflected shot while Lukas Provod hit the post before Hole got to a rebound inside the six-yard area to head his side level in the 93rd minute.

‘It’s a nightmare for Arsenal – analysis’

Former Arsenal and England player Karen Carney:

“It’s a nightmare for Arsenal, absolutely devastating. Arsenal had a lot of chances, Slavia Prague should have been dead and buried.”

Former Arsenal and England defender Martin Keown:

“It was about Arsenal and the way they played and by sitting off, I thought they chose the wrong tactics. It’s a disastrous result but it’s not the end.”

Arsenal’s defensive headache – the stats

• Arsenal have not kept a clean sheet in any of their past 14 games in all competitions, their longest such run since December 2019.
• Having lost their first three away games against English sides without scoring a single goal, Slavia Prague have lost just one of their past four such games in European competition (W1 D2), finding the net each time.
• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s assist for Arsenal’s opener was his 100th goal involvement in all competitions for Arsenal (84 goals, 16 assists).
• Slavia Prague’s Tomas Holes scored his first ever goal in major European competition, in what was his 14th appearance.
• Arsenal remain unbeaten in their nine European meetings with Czech opponents (W7 D2) – however, this was the first time they have failed to win a home game against a side from the Czech Republic.
• Nicolas Pepe has scored (four) and been involved in (seven) more Europa League goals for Arsenal than any other player this season.

What’s next?

Arsenal have an away game at the Premier League’s bottom club Sheffield United on Sunday (19:00 BST) to negotiate before the second leg next Thursday in Prague (20:00).