Slavia Prague v Arsenal preview: kick-off time, team news and form
Arsenal are back on the road in the Champions League on Wednesday evening, travelling to the Fortuna Arena to take on Slavia Prague in a League Phase clash kicking off at 8pm UK time.
There's plenty riding on this one for both sides, even if their respective seasons are shaping up very differently. Arsenal sit top of the Premier League and have made an impressive start to their European campaign, while Slavia Prague have found this stage of the competition a real struggle so far.
In terms of league phase form, Arsenal have won two and drawn one of their last three Champions League outings - a run of WWD that includes victories over Napoli and Lille either side of a hard-fought draw away at Bayern Munich. Slavia Prague's form in the competition reads LLD across the same period, having lost to Lens and Sabah before salvaging a draw against Fenerbahce last time out. Football.London notes this trip comes almost exactly a year on from the corresponding fixture, which Arsenal won 3-0 with goals from Bukayo Saka and Mikel Merino (Football.London).
Arsenal go into the game top of the Premier League, underlining the gulf in current fortunes between the two clubs this season, with Slavia finding life in Europe difficult by comparison.
Looking at the head-to-head picture, Football.London's preview of the fixture references last season's meeting between the two sides at this same stage of the competition, which went decisively in Arsenal's favour (Football.London) (Football.London).
The big team news story surrounds William Saliba, who has returned to full first-team training ahead of the trip to Prague after a long injury absence. The Guardian reports that Mikel Arteta is confident the Frenchman is ready to be involved, with Saliba having travelled with the squad (The Guardian). BBC Sport describes it as a timely boost for Arteta, though one that creates a selection dilemma at the back (BBC Sport), while Arsenal.com quotes Arteta's delight at Saliba's return, calling him "incredible" (Arsenal.com). Football.London add that Arteta has also been giving an update on the futures of other squad members during his pre-match press duties in Prague (Football.London) (Football.London) (Arsenal.com).
There's also been plenty of talk about Max Dowman, who Football.London suggest could be handed a start in the Champions League on Wednesday night, with Arteta reportedly sending the teenager a message following recent events in the Carabao Cup (Football.London). Football.London's writers also mooted a number of changes to the side that started the weekend's Premier League action, with up to seven alterations potentially on the cards along with questions over whether Viktor Gyokeres will lead the line (Football.London).
You can follow all the action from the Fortuna Arena when Slavia Prague host Arsenal in the Champions League, with kick-off at 8pm UK time on Wednesday 4th November.
Written with the help of AI, using the match facts and the headlines from the publishers credited above. Each point links to the original report — tap the source name to read it in full.
