Slavia made better chances than usual and still lost 2-1 to Arsenal

Slavia Praha created chances of higher quality than their norm at the Sinobo Stadium, while Arsenal won with fewer shots than they usually take.

Slavia Praha's chances were of a better standard than usual, and they still lost. Expected goals is a measure of chance quality that weighs where and how each shot is taken, and Slavia's figure of 2.2 at the Sinobo Stadium was well above the 1.65 they usually reach at home. Yet for all that quality, they scored only once.

Slavia had 16 shots, close to the 17 they average at home, so the volume was ordinary. What changed was where those efforts came from. They also held 43% of the ball, below the 48% they usually keep at home, so they had less of the ball and still produced better openings than normal.

Arsenal were the reverse in volume. They had 57% of the ball, close to the 58% they average away, but took only 12 shots against a usual 18.7. Their expected goals of 1.55 sat near their usual 1.6, which means the quality of their attempts held up while the number of them dropped sharply.

Noni Madueke opened the scoring in the ninth minute, set up by Viktor Gyökeres, and Gyökeres himself struck in the 38th minute from a pass by Mikel Merino. Gyökeres was involved in both goals, scoring one and creating the other, and his rating of 8.6 reflects that. Madueke's finish was the first chance Arsenal needed to turn into a goal, and it came early.

Neither side saw a player sent off, so there was no change in numbers to alter the match. Slavia's only goal arrived in the 90th minute, when Wiktor Nowak finished from a pass by David Jurasek to make it 2-1. It came too late to change the outcome, but it was the only way back Slavia found.

Slavia come into this on a rough run at home, with a draw and two defeats in their last three games there. The most recent of those was a 3-2 loss, and the side conceded at least twice in each of those three matches. Arsenal's away form has been steadier, with four wins in their last six games and conceded in only two of those six.

The defeat leaves Slavia Praha 32nd in the table after three matches, with one point. Arsenal, who have won two and drawn one of their three games, are ninth with seven points.

Player of the matchV. Gyökeres1 goal · 1 assist8.6

N. Madueke1 goal8.0

W. Nowak1 goal7.5

David Raya4 saves7.3