MIKEL MERINO shone as Arsenal coasted to a 3-0 victory over Slavia Prague in the Champions League.
Bukayo Saka kicked off the evening’s scoring when he calmly fired home from the penalty spot in the 32nd minute.
Merino would double his side’s advantage within the opening minute of the second half, turning in a Leandro Trossard delivery from close range.
And he would repeat the trick as he out-leapt his marker and headed home again 20 minutes later, although that effort was guided in with the help of a big deflection off the Slavia keeper.
A late penalty was initially given after a high foot in the box from substitute Ben White, but it was quickly overturned by VAR to protect Arsenal’s clean sheet, their 8th in as many games.
Arteta turned to young stars such as Max Dowman and Myles Lewis-Skelly to see the game out, with the Gunners bringing all three points back with them to North London.
The result kept it a perfect four wins from four games in the Champions League this season for the Gunners, and propelled them to the top of the League table, at least until the other front runners played their games for the gameweek.
