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Arsenal vs Slavia Prague: Atoning for Europa League failings

By Trent Nelson

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 08: Tomas Holes of Slavia Praha scores their side's first goal past Bernd Leno of Arsenal during the UEFA Europa League Quarter Final First Leg match between Arsenal FC and Slavia Praha at Emirates Stadium on April 08, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around Europe remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 08: Tomas Holes of Slavia Praha scores their side's first goal past Bernd Leno of Arsenal during the UEFA Europa League Quarter Final First Leg match between Arsenal FC and Slavia Praha at Emirates Stadium on April 08, 2021 in London, England. Sporting stadiums around Europe remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Hector Bellerin
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 08: Tomas Holes of Slavia Praha scores their side’s first goal past Bernd Leno of Arsenal during the UEFA Europa League Quarter Final First Leg match between Arsenal FC and Slavia Praha at Emirates Stadium on April 08, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /

Arsenal did not look particularly sharp against Slavia Prague in their first match up last week, despite the mounting pressure on the club. When Nicolas Pepe put Arsenal ahead of Prague towards the end of the match, it was of great relief to so many Gooners worldwide. For one sitting at home, it was a thrill, that would soon be followed by shock and horror.

For Arsenal was not to keep the lead, and would end up relinquishing a possibly crucial away goal in the process.

Now, with a week having gone by since the last time the two faced one another, can the Gunners avenge their untimely draw to move on to the semi-finals against either Dinamo Zagreb or Villarreal? It frankly remains to be seen.

While the last match was not what Arsenal need to demonstrate to eek out a European spot next season, and a trophy in this one, the momentum gathered from the subsequent beat down of Sheffield United has to have some impact upon the players. They must know that with effort and energy the team has a real shot to blow Slavia Prague out of the water as they should’ve in the first affair.

https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1382669533853327363

Meet me at Prague: Arsenal and Slavia must not be anywhere near as close as last time

Should the Gunners fail to show up, despite the illness and injuries that likely will see Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Martin Odegaard miss the match, they will make sure that they don’t bow out of the trophy hunt in shock fashion for the second year running. As they should not be in this position in the first place, it is all on them should they end up suffering for their prior poor play.

Yet I do not believe it will happen. The team has too much to play for and understands what is at stake here. It knows that the road ahead is not the most difficult one, no matter who they are to come up against, and so there is little pressure in this sense. All of the pressure is on the team currently and rejecting it while cruising to a relatively easy victory would be therapeutic for so many Arsenal supporters. The heart can’t handle much more.

Winning here is the next step, and without it, there is no step beyond. With Unai Emery likely waiting in the wings to take revenge on the club that fired him, perhaps or perhaps not correctly, Arsenal must first make sure they get to him at all by doing their part.

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