Gyokeres grabs goal and assist as Arsenal edge Slavia Prague to climb third in Champions League

Viktor Gyokeres delivered his most complete performance of the season as Arsenal beat Slavia Prague 2-1 in Prague on Tuesday, rising to third in the Champions League table with the Swedish striker at the heart of everything good about the Gunners’ play.

Gyokeres, making only his sixth start of the campaign, set up Noni Madueke’s ninth-minute opener before doubling the lead himself with a composed finish — his first Champions League goal from open play since scoring against Kairat Almaty in January. Wiktor Nowak pulled one back in the closing stages to leave Mikel Arteta’s side hanging on through stoppage time, but Arsenal held firm.

Madueke’s goal came directly from Gyokeres’s physicality. The 28-year-old muscled his marker off the ball on the halfway line and hooked a pass into space, allowing the England winger to race clear and slide his angled shot through the legs of goalkeeper Nazar Domchak.

Gyokeres then added his own name to the scoresheet just before half-time in more stylish fashion, exchanging passes with Mikel Merino as he moved into the area before opening up his body and clipping the ball across Domchak and in off the far post.

Arteta made six changes from the side that beat Liverpool 1-0 at the weekend, with Ben White and Piero Hincapie starting in defence, Martin Zubimendi and Merino in midfield, and Eberechi Eze operating as a lively presence behind Gyokeres. Teenager Max Dowman also came on late — suspended domestically following his red card at Fleetwood, but eligible for European competition.

Slavia had their moments. Tomas Holes wasted a free header from a long throw eight minutes before the break, and Arsenal were almost caught cold seconds after the restart when Oskar Kubiak forced David Raya into his first save of the match. Gabriel eventually had to clear a header from substitute Ange N’Guessan off the goal-line as the hosts pressed for an equaliser.

For Gyokeres, whose only other goal this season came in the Carabao Cup defeat at Fleetwood, the performance will do much to strengthen his case for a more regular starting role as Arsenal continue to navigate a congested fixture schedule.