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Welcome to a Champions League Tuesday where many teams are travelling across Europe to play their Group Stage matches. One of which, and most importantly is 3-0-0 Arsenal travelling to 0-1-2 Slavia Prague. Records aside, this could be a competitive game and at least should provide a stellar environment.

The game is set to kick off in exactly 96 minutes, so in the meantime, let’s learn a bit about Slavia Prague and scratch the surface of the mystical nature of its city. Stick around. I’ll be telling the game story as it unfolds.

SLAVIA PRAGUE

-Slavia Prague was founded 133 years and two days ago. It was November 2nd, 1892, when a group of Medical Students decided they needed to increase physical activity and thus created SK Slavia Praha or Slavia Prague.

-The most famous footballer to play for the club was Josef “Pepi” Bican. He retired officially in 1955 with an outstanding 805 goals scored for Slavia in 530 games. To add to his legendary goal scoring status, he scored 31 goals in 44 appearances for his home country of Austria. “Pepi” is still talked about to this day amongst local fans. He passed away December 12th, 2001 at the age of 88.

-The home matches are played in Fortuna Arena. It is touted as the biggest and most modern football stadium in Czechia holding 19,370. It opened September 27, 1953, two days after “Pepi’s 40th birthday. The legend scored the stadiums inaugural goal and the team drew 1-1.

In John Gillard’s World Atlas of Football Stadiums, he writes about the stadium this way.

“The North Stand Sector 106-110 are dedicated to the ‘Slavia Ultras.’ Here there is little need for seats as the smoke bombs are let off and flares fired towards the pitch. The wooden ceiling to the oval roof looks in danger of being set alight.–Meanwhile, charcuterie and champagne are served in the VIP skybox as a Slavia Prague historic highlights reel plays on a 50″ plasma screen on the wall.”

Sounds like a blast of a time for a spectator.

-One final thing on the stadium, it was the sight for the 2023 Europa Conference League Final and just for the heck of it, Pink rocked a sold-out stadium way back on July 20th, 2010.

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We’ve still got plenty of time before the game kicks, 59 minutes to be exact, so let’s continue to the city of Prague itself. Well, just a few mystical nuggets.

• Known as “The City of a Hundred Spires,” but the city actually boasts over 500 steeples that pierce the skyline from churches, cathedrals, and towers across the city.
  • The city’s nickname is ‘Stovezata.’ Literally, “with a hundred spires.”
• The famous Charles Bridge crosses the Vltava river which splits the city. Legend has it that a Goblin lives underneath the Charles Bridge. Tourists should be on the watch as they cross. The Goblin knows not to mess with a local.
• The Old Town Square is quite a prominent fixture in the city. It’s known as Staromak.
• Just Northwest of the Staromak, there is an Old Jewish Cemetery that can be spooky both day and night. One such inhabitant is Rabbi Judah Low Ben Bezalel who created a mythical creature to protect his neighborhood. Nighttime is when the creature is most likely to be wandering, but due to clever disguises is able to navigate the streets in the daytime with anonymity without raising alarm.

Just a few fun facts about Prague. Hopefully, you enjoyed. There is so much more to the mystical nature of Prague, but that can remain for another day. We are here for the football, but why not learn a little along the way. Maybe I’ll plug a few more things as we progress in the game, but hopefully the game is good enough to have my full attention.

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Now that we have a few fun facts out of the way and we are 43 minutes from kickoff, let’s look at the lineup Mikel Arteta has chosen for this away Champions League matchup

ARSENAL XI

• GK Raya
• RB Timber
• CB Saliba
• CB Gabriel
• LB Hincapie
• CM Norgaard
• CM Rice
• CM Nwaneri
• RW Saka
• ST Merino
• LW Trossard

No Gyokeres! Not even on the bench. A bit alarming. Hopefully he is ok. We shouldn’t need him to win, but it is alarming that he didn’t make the bench. We’ll see. We need him to be healthy.

-Notable Declan Rice is one Yellow Card away from being suspended one match. Should he receive a yellow, he will miss the match with Bayern Munich November 26th.

The bench is as follows:

• RB White
• LB Calafiori
• LB Skelly
• CM EZE
• CB Mosquera
• RW Dowman
• ST Annious
• GK Setford
• GK Rojas
• LW Sagoe

Let’s get it lads! COYG! Kickoff in 38 minutes.

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Slavia Prague have selected a lineup that will feature a 3-4-3 formation. Provad and Moses will be their strongest link up the right-hand side. Hincapie will have his hands full with the two.

–I’ll say it here–Arsenal should score three, but I think Praha finds a way to score at least one. It’s been 6 weeks since the gunners have allowed a goal to be scored, but I think the opportunity will be there at least once for the home side. So, I will predict a 3-1 Arsenal victory. Moses or Provad to be involved with the goal.

-10 Minutes until kick. “North London Forever!”

-Well, now it’s ten minutes until the kick which is at 10:45 not 10:30. Homemade Egg McMuffin down the gullet and a hot drink to my left. It’s about to be gametime.

A strong breeze gusts from the south and shreds the leaves clinging for dear life to the branches out the back window against a cloudless bluebird sky. It’s a perfect day. A perfectly picturesque fall day. It’s 48, calm and clear in Prague where its currently 6:34 P.M. A beautiful fall night.

The Fortuna Arena is packed like a sardine can and the North Sections are living up to their reputation with smoke bombs and flares during the player introductions. This is what a Champions League Night in Europe is about–energy, passion, emotion, and drama. This is the Champions League, and it is coming up next.

But first, here is a word from today’s presenting sponsor.

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So, find a neighbor in need and lend a helping hand to them, or rake. This message has been brought to you by the “Be Kind to Your Neighbors Foundation” where everyone is a member and it’s free to join. Simply, Be kind.

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KICKOFF

• Straight Away Moses cleverly blows past Hincapie and lays it off for a shot that missed the target, but only just. Again, if a goal is scored from Praha, I expect it to come from this right-hand side: Provad or Moses will be involved by scoring or assist. 1st Minute

Arsenal wearing their away blue kits with a red stripe and Slavia Prague in their home red and white. The Gunners are moving right to left on the screen, although it’s Prague who are enjoying the possession and providing pressure in the early stages. 5th Minute.

-Gyokeres is officially out “injured” and not resting according to the CBS Sports broadcast.

-Every chance has come by way of the home side thus far and they are enjoying the majority of possession. This has the home fans in full voice chanting and singing in unison. Drums pounding and horns blowing as accents from a small band amongst the “Ultras” on the North End. It’s an incredible environment to watch and hear.

In a way, the entire Fortuna Arena reminds me of a student section. A 19,000-seat student section. Reminiscent of the old “Blue Crew” in the mid to late 2000’s. 20th Minute. 0-0.

-The Fans in the North End are now each holding a piece of paper that is either black, yellow, orange, or white and holding them up overhead. This spells out “133 SK” in a large artistic way in honor of the Club’s 133rd birthday. A fun fact we learned a bit ago. 0-0. 25th Minute. Possession 50/50 now.

-Review for potential handball 30th minute and it’s an obvious one. Arsenal have earned a penalty on a cross that hit the arm of the Praha man as his arm was extended over his head. It’s unfortunate, but it’s the correct call.

• GOAL! Saka from the spot. Drilled into the bottom right corner just past the keeper who guessed correctly. Too much sting on the shot zipped it just passed his glove. Saka’s 12th Champions League Goal in 21 games. 1-0. 31st Minute

-There was zero intent on the handball, but his arm was well away from his body and denied Gabriel of a headed chance. It was a clear penalty, but again, unfortunate for the home side as they have performed quite well to this point.

-40th Minute and Arsenal are taking their 7th Corner Kick to Praha’s zero. This game is all Arsenal at this point. You wouldn’t know it from the crowd noise. They are an energetic bunch with Energizer Bunny longevity. I haven’t heard a more boisterous crowd this season.

HALF 1-0.

The Gunners are doing a superb job at holding the home side at arm’s length in this game. After the burst in the first few minutes, Slavia Prague did not get a shot away the rest of the half. 1-0 feels quite comfortable at the moment against this side.

-Boos rained down on the referee as he went towards the locker room for his decision to give the penalty. I get it. I’d boo as well. That’s what being a fanatic is all about.

I think right now, back to the “Grindhouse” FedEx Forum days with the Tony Allen and Zach Randolph led “Grit and Grind” Grizzlies. I would’ve booed in a game like this where the better team was ahead at the half because of a referee. Scott Foster and Joey Crawford both heard their fair share from me back in the day.

Anyways, I get the fans booing, but it was the correct call.

SECOND HALF

• GOAL!! Merino on a clever one touch volley from a cross that came in from the left off Trossard’s left boot. 46th Minute. 2-0

Only seconds passed before the goal. Maybe twenty seconds clear of the half beginning and Merino found space in the middle to score. 2-0. This feels like game done.

-49th Minute Slavia subs off their big striker as he came up injured. This adds to the improbability that the home side can mount a full comeback. Let’s see if the blue shirts can pile on a few goals. Afterall, goal differential does matter in this tournament.

-65th EZE on for Nwaneri. The pace of the game has slowed, and Arsenal are in full control.

• GOAL! Merino Again. In the 68th Minute Merino flicked a backwards header towards goal from an elite Declan Rice cross. Declan’s best touch of the day. Clever finish by the Spaniard. It’s 3-0. Again, It’s game over.

-73rd Minute Subs: Skelly, White, and Dowman on. Trossard, Hincapie, and Timber off. Dowman, at 15 is officially the youngest player ever to play in Champions League. He’s about to cook it up the right for the next fifteen minutes.

-It’s Sunderland next, so I love getting to rest players before Saturday.

-In three minutes, Dowman has been fouled twice. He’s just too quick. Elite quickness. He’ll have a bruised shin as a minimum from the two challenges.

-81st Minute SUB: Seventeen-Year-Old Annious on for Rice. Merino will drop to the midfield and Annious will take his place at Striker. Let’s get a youngster a goal!

Great game for Merino. Striker is where he is meant to be and it showed today. Maybe not against a top-level side like Liverpool, City, or Bayern, but against mid to lower-level squads, he’s perfect for what I want out of Striker. He’s too slow for midfield. I say it every game.

• PENALTY!! 84th Minute. The ref pointed to the spot immediately. It’s currently under review. Ben White flings a high boot towards the ball and may have just clipped the Prague man…long review. It’s not a pen for me. It’s the 86th minute now. The ref is still deciding. I don’t see this given.
  • 87th Minute No Penalty!

Clean sheet saved for now. It was risky from Ben White, but he won the ball and the replay showed it clearly. The challange was certainly dangerous but he never touched the opposing player. Of course, the player was writhing in agonizing pain from the phantom contact. We move on. COYG!

-I’d like to see Eze continue to improve in this squad. He has unreal skill and instincts but has yet to show consistent cohesiveness with his new teammates. It’ll happen with time but it’s a noticeable element in these final minutes. A misplayed pass here, a bad touch there–He’s a phenomenal player but is still working to become comfortable. Only up Eze. 91st Minute. 5 Added.

-This has been a fun night in Prague and thanks for coming along for the ride. We’ve got just a minute or two left but wanted to take a moment to say a formal “thank you” for stopping by Single High Sports for a ‘Daily Dose of Sports to Curb the Workday Boredom.’ It’s a pleasure to serve you in this way with fun facts and sports chatter.

-Credit Slavia Prague for their effort. Credit the fans for bringing such unbridled and unyielding energy for the entirety of the game. The passion and love for their club was evident and as a spectator, I truly enjoyed it. It’s a rarity for me to have the TV’s volume on during a game, but this one was worth it. The crowd made the night.

FINAL Arsenal 3- Slavia Prague 0

-Another Clean sheet for the Gunners. 4-0-0 in Champions League without surrendering a single goal so far. What a start.

September 28th, in the 34th minute, Arsenal conceded a goal. That’s yet to happen since. Three goals conceded in the first seventeen games in all competitions. This is like playing a video game season on easy. Win every game 3-0. That’s what this season has been like. This Arsenal team is stacked full of talent.

On another note, we need to stop losing players. Martinelli and Gyokeres most recently add to the list that includes Gabby Jesus, Havertz, and Madueke. Thankfully, we boast an abundance of top-level players, but let’s not make this a habit. Get well lads.

So that’s about it on this breezy but beautiful Tuesday midday. It was morning when we started this and now it’s nearing 12:45. Let’s go get some sunshine. North London Forever!

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SOURCE: Dan Brown’s Secret of Secrets holds many details about Prague. Mystical and geographical. I hope they make it a movie. Also, I’d love to help with the casting on this film. Captain Janacek can be no one except Richard Brake.

Find the Humor and Keep on Movin’

Whit W.