Tripovsky was impressed by Arsenal's youngstersplaceholder image
Tripovsky was impressed by Arsenal's youngsters | AFP via Getty Images
Slavia Praha’s manager couldn’t believe what he was seeing from two young Arsenal players in the Champions League.
Slavia Praha manager Jindfich Trisovsky has been speaking about Arsenal and their star young talent after seeing his side come off second best on Tuesday night. Arsenal won 3-0 in the Czech Republic thanks to a Bukayo Saka penalty and a brace from makeshift striker Mikel Merino.
The win meant Arsenal preserved their perfect Champions League record, while they are now on 10 straight wins across all competitions.
It was a confident and competent performance from the Gunners, who just have a habit of getting the job done currently, and the win over Slavia Praha came in the absence of an out-and-out striker, with Viktor Gyokeres having missed out through injury.
Slavia Praha, meanwhile, have been left on two points from their first four games, and progression is starting to look unlikely, albeit there is time left to pick up the necessary points to land a play-off spot.
“We gave it our all, we had good passages and especially the start of the match,” said Tripsovsky. “Overall, the first half was on the limit of our possibilities, unfortunately we got a penalty. Great mini duels from most of the players, I have to commend them. The start of the second half was not good, after one mistake we let Arsenal cross and Merin alone in the penalty area, that threw us back.
“The third goal was also after a mistake, the best teams punish them. That's the Champions League. It's a loss, but we're not hanging our heads. We created pressure on the ball, played at risk, we have something to take away. It's a shame the half didn't end 0-0, maybe then it would have been a little different. Big credit to the opponent, they are great, they showed it again. The boys faced them with great determination, hats off to them.”
Dowman verdict
It has become a tradition for opposing managers to be asked about Arsenal’s 15-year-old prodigy Max Dowman at this point, and Tripovsky was no exception.
"It definitely is,” he responded when asked about how impressive it is to see Dowman playing first-team football. “When you see him on the pitch, you wouldn't even tell. Sure, a substitute always has more energy, but he's also been through tough battles.
“We've watched individual videos of him. Playing at that level at 15 is extreme. Absolutely unprecedented. For Arsenal, as with Lewis-Skelly, it's fantastic - to bring up a player like that from our own academy."
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