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Mikel Arteta Not Impressed by Arsenal’s Second-Half Display in Prague Victory
Arteta said Rice’s full 90 minutes was needed as Arsenal held on after a strong first half and a late Slavia Prague reply.
On Wednesday, Arsenal secured a 2-1 Champions League victory over Slavia Prague, with first-half goals from Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres establishing an early lead.
Despite a dominant opening 45 minutes, Arsenal struggled after halftime as Slavia created multiple chances and fired 17 shots, forcing the visitors to endure sustained pressure.
Manager Mikel Arteta played down fitness concerns regarding Declan Rice, who completed the full 90 minutes, stating, "The game required it, and he did."
Former Arsenal and England Women midfielder Karen Carney told TNT Sports that Rice's fatigue was concerning, saying, "when his energy goes I think they slightly fall apart."
Arteta accepted responsibility for Arsenal's structural breakdown, noting the difficulty of away matches in the Champions League while emphasizing the need to learn from the narrow escape.