Arsenal 1-1 Slavia Prague: This team called Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Slavia Prague: This team called Arsenal - Europa League match report

 

Nicolas Pepe looped one over the goalkeeper to get Arsenal in front but a late surge earned a point for the visitors at the Emirates. (Photo credit: Sky Sports)

“Clear the f***ing ball” Granit Xhaka screamed at full time but it sums up the night tells of Arsenal’s embarrassing frailties at the back and the team’s weakness.

Tomas Holes headed a stoppage-time Slavia Prague secured a 1-1 draw away to the Emirates in the first leg of their Europa League quarterfinal on Thursday.

It looked as though substitute Nicolas Pepe’s 86th-minute effort had given the hosts a narrow advantage to take to the Czech Republic for next week's second leg but defender Holes forced a header past Bernd Arsenal and keep the tie balanced on a knife edge.

 

Willian and Alexander Lacazette were both denied by the woodwork for Mikel Arteta's side after the break.

 

Slavia, who have beaten Leicester City and Rangers on their way to the quarter-finals, had their moments too and substitute Petr Sevcik squandered a good chance to put them ahead while Lukas Provod had a shot turned against the woodwork seconds before Holes pounced to equalize.

 

It was a disappointing night for Arsenal whose season rests on going all the way in the Europa League.

Although they created plenty of chances, they looked fragile and lacked intensity until captain Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, surprisingly left on the bench, and Pepe came on.

 

Arteta, who said he was shocked by his side's meek defeat by Liverpool at the weekend, looked aghast at the final whistle.

 

"The game was under control, we got the goal that we wanted, but then we played two or three balls in areas that we should not do and we put ourselves on the back foot," he said.

"Obviously [the late goal] changes the feeling."

The last time Slavia Prague visited Arsenal they lost 7-0 in a 2007 Champions League tie but they provided far more resistance this time.

Peter Olayinka had the first shot on target while Provod flashed a drive over the bar, although Arsenal should have gone in front when Saka was played in by Rob Holding but wastefully curled his shot wide of the post.

 

Saka was tripped just outside the area after outpacing the Slavia defense early in the second half and from the resulting free kick Willian found the outside of the upright.

After a period of Slavia possession Arsenal broke forward and Lacazette had the freedom of the pitch to run into, but with only keeper Ondrej Kolar to beat he hoisted his shot against the crossbar when it looked easier to score.

 

Lacazette scooped another chance over before Arteta sent on Pepe, Aubameyang and Mohammed Elneny in the 76th minute and it almost paid dividends but Aubameyang failed to finish from in front of goal.

Aubameyang played the pass that sent Pepe racing away and he outpaced the Czech defence before delicately clipping the ball beyond Kolar into the corner.

Arsenal celebrated hard but it was Slavia's players who were joyous at the full-time whistle after earning a precious draw for the Czech champions.

"It is superb to score a late equalizer against Arsenal, what else I can wish for?," Holes said. "I will remember it until the end of my life. We got a superb result."