SK Slavia Prague vs Arsenal betting tips and predictions: Can the hosts finally end their 17-year Champions League drought?

SK Slavia Prague state of play

Slavia Prague remain the only unbeaten side in the Czech First League, though the recent spell hasn’t exactly been easy on the eye. They’ve gone five games without a win in all competitions, scoring only once across that stretch. Fair play to them, the last three ended nil-nil, including a solid point away at Atalanta in the Champions League. 

Before that came the Prague derby, one of those fiery clashes that always delivers chaos and pride in equal measure. The game finished 1-1 after being reduced to ten men on sixty-six minutes. Now they turn to a cup trip to Zlin and another league test before welcoming the side widely tipped to win the Premier League title race.

Heading into matchweek four, not many Champions League betting sites fancy their chances. And that’s hardly a shock. On paper, the Prague side are miles behind in stature. Their squad value stands at around €106 million, more than twelve times lower than Arsenal’s enormous €1.31 billion. 

Even so, against stronger opposition like Atalanta, they showed resilience and discipline under pressure. The numbers back it up, too. Their possession stays on the lower side in most fixtures, even at home against Bodo/Glimt, which tells you they’ll most likely look to contain and strike on the counter.

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Arsenal state of play

Arsenal come into this tie with their defensive shape nailed down. Three goals conceded in the first nine league matches says plenty about their control and organisation. 

That same edge has carried into Europe. The 4-0 demolition of Atlético Madrid showed how ruthless they can be when the game opens up. Their set-piece threat did the damage early, and once they took charge of possession, there was no way back for the Spaniards. Slavia Prague face a huge test here. They have only scored once in their last five matches, and that lack of cutting power could leave them chasing shadows for most of the night.

➡️ Betfred have Arsenal backed at 4/5 to keep a clean sheet.

On Tuesday night, though, Arteta’s side heads to Czech turf, and that Tribuna Sever crowd will make the place bounce. It’s a tough environment. Plus, their attacking end still has work to do. While moments of flair appear, open-play penetration remains less consistent than set-piece output. 

From a squad point of view, the summer spending has shaped a group ready for every challenge. David Raya summed it up after the Atlético match, calling the depth “incredible,” with players able to cover “two, three, four different positions.” That tells you everything about the standards inside the camp. 

Key talking point: SK Slavia Prague are winless in the Champions League since September 2007.

Seventeen years without a Champions League win. That’s the weight Slavia Prague carry into this one. Their last victory in Europe’s top competition came back in September 2007, a 2-1 triumph over Steaua Bucharest. Since then, it’s been a stretch of near misses and hard lessons, with that 7-0 defeat to Arsenal still hanging over the club’s history. 

They’ve rebuilt well at home and made real strides in the Europa League, reaching the quarter-finals in 2018/19 and again in 2020/21, the latter halted by Arteta’s Arsenal. The Champions League, though, has always been a step too high. Now they cross paths again with the Premier League leaders on Czech soil, and the stage could not feel any bigger.

FIRST.com’s top tip - SK Slavia Prague vs Arsenal

Pick: Slavia Prague (Arsenal No Bet) – 17/10 – (Ladbrokes)

Arsenal’s defence looks immaculate, though their attacking edge on the road hasn’t quite matched it. Slavia remain unbeaten at home this season across league, cup, and Champions League. They showed real organisation holding Atalanta to a stalemate in Bergamo. With the Tribuna Sever crowd driving them on, this market offers cover if Arsenal win while keeping value in Slavia’s home record.

Pick: Total goals under 3.5 - 13/25 - (10bet) 

Both sides base their game on defence. Arsenal have conceded only three times in nine league outings, while Slavia remain unbeaten domestically with three clean sheets on the bounce. 

The Czech champions have a habit of dragging opponents into a slower rhythm and will most likely rely on tight lines and game management to take the sting out of attacks. 

Add the narrow Prague pitch and the weight of the occasion, and three goals already feel a stretch.

Team news

Slavia Prague could be missing David Doudera, Igoh Ogbu, and Tomas Holes, each dealing with knocks and eyeing returns in mid/late November. 

Arsenal face their own worries after the 1-0 win over Crystal Palace saw Gabriel Martinelli, Declan Rice, Riccardo Calafiori, and William Saliba picking up problems. Kai Havertz and Martin Ødegaard remain in treatment as they continue recovery from knee issues.

SK Slavia Prague vs Arsenal expected line-ups

SK Slavia Prague: Markovic; Zima, Chaloupek, Boril; Hashioka, Dorley, Provod, Zmrzly; Zafeiris, Kusej; Chory. (3-4-2-1)

Arsenal: Raya; White, Hincapié, Gabriel, Timber; Zubimendi, Merino; Saka, Eze, Trossard; Gyökeres. (4-3-3)

Form guide 

SK Slavia Prague: DDDDLWWLLW

Arsenal: WWWWWWWDWW

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Odds correct at the time of writing.