Slavia Prague vs Arsenal Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2026-27 UEFA Champions League | League Phase
by Alex Lawes ·
Czech champions Slavia Prague welcome last season’s UEFA Champions League runners-up Arsenal to the Fortuna Arena on Wednesday.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV & online: UK – TNT Sports & HBO Max / USA – Paramount+
Slavia Prague preview: Inconsistent Slavia
In the league phase of the UEFA Champions League, Slavia Prague were 2-1 up heading into second half stoppage-time against Lens in their opener but lost 3-2 before then being surprisingly comfortably beaten 2-0 by Sabah in Baku.
They did show some fight and earn a turnaround of their own a couple of weeks ago as they fought back from 2-0 down to get themselves a much-needed point in Istanbul against a struggling Fenerbahce side.
Arsenal preview: Going a step further
Arsenal reached the quarter-finals of the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League. They then made it to the semi-finals a year later before making the final last season and the pressure is on The Gunners to continue that trajectory and win their first ever UEFA Champions League title.
They recovered from one of the biggest upsets in EFL Cup history, losing on penalties to League Two side Fleetwood Town last week, by edging past Liverpool at Anfield at the weekend, winning away from home against The Reds in the Premier League for the first time in nearly 15 years.
Slavia Prague team news: Schranz a doubt
Slovakia international winger Ivan Schranz is a doubt for this one after missing out at the weekend due to illness. Slavia have a couple of confirmed injury absentees, too, in Bryan Ouanda and Elias Pitak.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Markovic; Kristan, Zima, N’Guessan; Suleiman, Moses, Nowak, Kubiak; Ayaosi, Provod; Sturm
Unavailable: Ouanda (Injured), Pitak (Injured)
Questionable: Schranz (Illness)
Arsenal team news: Possible rotation
It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Mikel Arteta rotate again this midweek, albeit the likes of Gabriel and Declan Rice got given rest against Fleetwood last week. Bukayo Saka is expected to be sidelined until at least December as William Saliba works his way back to full fitness.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Raya; Timber, Konsa, Gabriel, Hincapie; Rice, Guimaraes; Madueke, Odegaard, Eze; Gyokeres
Unavailable: Saliba (Fitness), Saka (Injured)
Questionable:
Slavia Prague vs Arsenal prediction
Slavia Prague have often been proactive regardless of who they are coming up when they have home advantage but their best shot is surely to try and shut down an often compact and awkward Arsenal side – but an Arsenal side that often struggles to find magic in the final third and can rely on set-pieces or simply punishing mistakes. Arsenal are firm favourites but they are rarely a treat for the neutral with their competence and control.
Slavia Prague vs Arsenal Tip: Arsenal to win & under 3.5 goals
