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  • Kick-off: 19:45
  • Venue: Stadion Evzena Rosickeho
  • Attendance: 18000
  • Referee: Layec, B

Live Commentary

90mins

Full-Time: SLV PRAGUE 0-0 ARSENAL

90mins

Tavares mops up at the back as Arsenal threaten to grab an undeserved winner. A draw is enough to take Arsenal through to the last 16 though.

90mins

Arsenal are finishing the match strongly as the rain continues to pour down.

90mins

Five minutes of stoppage time to be played.

90mins

A late change by Slavia as Tomas Jablonsky replaces Pudil

86mins

Adebayor's header is easily gathered by Vorel. It's the first time the keeper has been forced to make a save though.

84mins

Another booking - the sixth of the game which hasn't been particularly dirty - Daniel Pudil this time.

83mins

The free-kick hits the back of Marek Suchy's heel and goes out for a goal kick.

82mins

Denilson is booked for tripping Ivana.

82mins

Tricky play by Ivana who eventually wins a free-kick on the edge of the area.

81mins

The woeful Eduardo makes way for Emmanuel Eboue.

78mins

A goalmouth scramble ends with Gilberto hoofing a shot way over the crossbar at least it was an effort on goal.

77mins

Slavia also make a change with Milan Ivana replacing Senkerik.

77mins

Wenger brings on Adebayor for Bendtner.

76mins

A great save by Almunia keeps it goalless. Senkerik latches on to a long ball and tries to lift the ball over the keeper who makes a soild stop to deny the Slavia striker.

74mins

Slavia's tackling has been fierce and their marking tight - they're determined to hang on for at least a point.

72mins

Another yellow card as Matej Krajcik is booked after hauling Diaby back.

70mins

Frantisek Drizdal's superb run and cross causes chaos in the Gunners defence until Alexandre Song eventually clears.

69mins

Bendtner tries to send Eduardo clear but Michal Vorel races out of his goal to hack the ball away from danger.

67mins

Diaby sets up Eduardo inside the area but the Croatian can not get a shot on goal and requires treatment after falling awkwardly.

66mins

The rain is unrelenting but the game continues to stutter.

64mins

A tiring Smicer makes way for David Kalivoda.

63mins

David Hubacek tries his luck from distance but his effort is way too high.

61mins

Denilson starts a ruck after leaving his foot high and catching Svec.

59mins

The corner comes to nothing but Arsenal have definitely stepped up a gear since the interval.

57mins

Walcott's cross is once again poor - but at least he wins a corner.

55mins

Diaby wins a free-kick - the Gunners are finally getting into their stride.

53mins

Better play by Arsenal as they string a few passes together.

51mins

Lassana Diarra is booked after clattering into Svec although he appeared to lose his footing in the slippery conditions.

50mins

It's getting livelier though as Bendtner's shot is deflected away from goal.

50mins

Svec wins the ball in midfield and, after a good move, Senkerik falls over in the area - the referee waves play on though.

49mins

Eduardo loses the ball again - the Croatian and Walcott have been dire.

48mins

Slavia appear to have the belief they can win this game as they surge on to the attack in the early moments of the second half.

47mins

Svec is rightly booked for cynically chopping down Eduardo.

46mins

The heavens have opened in Prague as Slavia get the second half underway in torrential rain.

45mins

Half-Time: SLV PRAGUE 0-0 ARSENAL.

44mins

A great move on the stroke of half-time ends with Senkerik heading over the bar, although the Slavia man is flagged offside.

42mins

Walcott is getting no change out of the Slavia defence as he's bundled off the ball yet again.

41mins

Tavares becomes the first player to go into the referee's notebook after tussling with Diaby.

38mins

Slavia have really picked up after making a nervous start to the game and are currently the better side.

36mins

A good turn by Zdenek Senkerik who makes room for himself inside the area before forcing Manuel Almunia to make a fingertip save.

34mins

Eduardo, who has been completely invisible so far, goes on a run but is eventually crowded out by the packed Slavia defence.

32mins

At last some space for Walcott, but again his final ball is woeful and Slavia easily clear their lines.

30mins

Both sides seem content with a stalemate as chances remain notable by their absence.

28mins

Gael Clichy looks to have got away from Michal Svec before he's unceremoniously knocked over by the Slavia defender.

26mins

Bendtner is looking lively, although he's also finding it hard to break down the Slavia defence.

24mins

Gilberto gets his revenge on Smicer with a clumsy tackle. The play, such as it is, is bogged down in midfield for the time being.

22mins

Former Liverpool star Vladimir Smicer lunges at Gilberto, but again there's no card - just a stern word from the referee.

21mins

It's not been a thriller so far but at least, after a slow start, Slavia are making a game of it.

19mins

The referee has a word with Abou Diaby after the Arsenal man catches Frantisek Drizdal with a high boot, but escapes a booking.

18mins

A great run by Bendtner but his cross is cut out before it can reach Walcott.

16mins

The chance seems to have lifted Slavia as they start to pass the ball more confidently.

14mins

Slavia win the first corner of the match but an unmarked Mickael Tavares heads an excellent chance over the bar - a let-off for Arsenal.

13mins

It's been a very tame start to the game - no chances for either side so far.

11mins

Slick passing by Arsenal - they're playing a different game to Slavia.

10mins

Bendtner wins a free-kick by the corner flag, but Walcott's delivery is dreadful and sails harmlessly over everybody.

9mins

Gilberto Silva is busy in the centre of midfield, presumably attempting to impress Wenger and win his place back in the starting line-up on a regular basis.

7mins

The Czech side seem in awe of what is essentially Arsenal's second-string side.

5mins

Slavia are playing a cagey game - you'd almost think they were the away team.

4mins

Slavia, in contrast, are in a more sober white kit, with a hint of red.

3mins

Arsenal appear to be playing in a hybrid Barcelona shirt which is a little alarming.

2mins

Arsenal play the ball around at the back, to jeers from the home fans.

1mins

Arsenal get the game underway at a chilly Prague.

0mins

Arsenal have won all three of their group games to date while Slavia are third with three points from three matches after beating Steaua Bucharest 2-1 in their opening encounter.

0mins

Karel Jarolim's Slavia side lead the Czech League by six points from second-placed city rivals Sparta after 12 games of the season and beat Teplice 1-0 on Saturday.

0mins

Wenger opted to leave Cesc Fabregas, Kolo Toure, Tomas Rosicky and Alexander Hleb at home and has decided to start with Theo Walcott, Eduardo Da Silva and Nicklas Bendtner in what is almost a reserve team line-up.

0mins

Just two weeks after thrashing Slavia 7-0 at the Emirates Stadium, the Gunners know that a point in Prague could be enough to seal their place in the last 16 of the competition.

0mins

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has opted to rest several of his stars for the Champions League Group H clash at Czech League leaders Slavia Prague.

Match Report

Arsenal secured their place in the last 16 of the Champions League after grinding out a dull goalless draw against a Slavia Prague side they had beaten 7-0 at the Emirates Stadium two weeks ago.

It was a grim display by the Gunners but they did just enough to grab the point they needed to cement their place at the top of Group H.

Arsene Wenger opted to rest most of his first-team regulars with Cesc Fabregas, Kolo Toure, Tomas Rosicky and Alexander Hleb all left at home.

Wenger's starting line-up was virtually a second team but it was understandable considering the north London side had won all three of their group games without conceding a goal.

Despite being hammered by Arsenal last month, Slavia could not be under-estimated as Karel Jarlom's side lead the Czech league by six points after 12 games of the season and beat Teplice 1-0 on Saturday.

Slavia started the match very cagily, almost as though they were the away team, and seemed in awe of what was essentially Arsenal's second-string side.

However, they did create the first opening of a very dull first period in the 14th minute when, from the first corner of the match, an unmarked Mickael Tavares headed an excellent chance over the bar.

The incident seemed to lift Slavia as they started to pass the ball more confidently and, in the 36th minute, Zdenek Senkerik made room for himself inside the area before forcing Manuel Almunia to make a fingertip save.

While Arsenal struggled to get any momentum going, Slavia created another great move on the stroke of half-time that ended with Senkerik heading over the bar, although the striker was flagged offside.

The heavens opened in Prague at the break and the second half was played in torrential rain as Arsenal looked to extend their 25-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

Slavia thought they should have had a penalty in the 50th minute when Senkerik was bundled over in the area but the referee waved play on.

Arsenal were marginally better in the second half but the woeful Eduardo and dire Theo Walcott failed to create any openings.

Slavia continued to look the likelier side to break the deadlock and, with 20 minutes left, Frantisek Drizdal's superb run and cross caused chaos in the Gunners defence until Alexandre Song eventually cleared the ball.

The best chance of the game came in the 76th minute when Senkerik latched on to a long ball and tried to lift his shot over Almunia only for the keeper to make a solid save.

With five minutes left, substitute Emmanuel Adeyabor's header was easily gathered by Michal Vorel - the first and only time the Slavia keeper was forced to make a save.

It was job done for Arsenal though, as they qualified for the knockout stages of the competition with two rounds of group games still to go.

Slavia Prague

Arsenal

Corners

36

Fouls

2718

Goal attempts

65

Shots off target

34

Offsides

63

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