Arsenal continued their pursuit of the Champions League with a 2-1 victory over Slavia Prague on Wednesday evening, but the scoreline tells only part of the story. Mikel Arteta's decision at half-time could prove pivotal in the club's hopes of silverware this season.
The Gunners took the lead in the ninth minute through Noni Madueke before Victor Gyokeres added a second. Arsenal were in control and never had to move up through the gears against a Czech side that could have been blown away in the first half.
Arteta's half-time change
With his side cruising 2-0 at the break, Arteta changed tactics. The goal appeared to be to conserve energy for upcoming matches, a move that could prove crucial come May.
Arsenal, like most major clubs, face a packed schedule this season, and with the World Cup on the horizon, players can easily become overworked. Arteta's decision to move away from high-octane football was a stroke of genius. It was not entertaining, but it did not need to be; Arteta simply wanted his players fresh.
Slavia's late response
Wiktor Nowak did eventually find the net for Slavia, but it was too little too late for the visitors.
Bigger tests are on the horizon for Arsenal, who enter a tricky run of fixtures after clashes with Hull and Newcastle in the Premier League. It all starts on November 24, when they welcome Borussia Dortmund before facing Manchester City at the weekend.
Looking ahead
That top-of-the-table clash is followed by back-to-back Premier League matches against Brentford and Spurs before they turn their attention to Europe and Real Madrid.
For the moment, Arteta can only take it one game at a time, and with the Gunners back on their perch in the Premier League, he will be hoping they can make that final step in Europe.
