Arsenal's Champions League aspirations suffered a devastating blow in Prague as Slavia Prague snatched a dramatic 94th-minute equaliser to leave the Gunners' European campaign hanging by a thread.
Late Heartbreak for Arteta's Men
Substitute Nicolas Pepe appeared to have stolen a vital victory for the North London side with an 86th-minute opener, only for Tomas Holes to head home in stoppage time and level the quarter-final tie.
The result leaves Mikel Arteta facing mounting pressure, with Arsenal now requiring a decisive victory in next week's second leg at the Emirates to keep their European dreams alive.
Gunners Dominate But Fail to Capitalise
Despite creating numerous clear-cut opportunities throughout the match, Arsenal's familiar finishing woes returned to haunt them at the Eden Arena. Alexandre Lacazette was particularly wasteful, hitting the crossbar from close range in the first half when it seemed easier to score.
Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe caused constant problems for the Czech defence, but their efforts weren't enough to secure the crucial away victory that would have put Arsenal in control of the tie.
Arteta's Tactical Gamble Backfires
The Arsenal manager's decision to start Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the bench raised eyebrows before kickoff, and his late introduction failed to change the game's outcome. Arteta now faces serious questions about his team selection and Arsenal's inability to see out matches.
With the Premier League offering little comfort for the struggling London club, elimination from Europe would represent a significant setback in Arteta's rebuilding project.
What Next for Arsenal?
The Gunners must now regroup quickly ahead of next Thursday's decisive encounter at the Emirates Stadium. Anything less than victory will see Arsenal crash out of European competition entirely, marking another disappointing chapter in their recent history.
Slavia Prague, meanwhile, will be confident of completing the job after extending their unbeaten run to 23 matches across all competitions.
