Impressive!! Arsenal match 105-year-old record with defensive run

Arsenal continued their impressive defensive form on Tuesday night as Mikel Arteta’s team defeated Slavia Prague 3-0 in the Champions League.

Bukayo Saka opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Mikel Merino, who was covering for the injured Viktor Gyokeres upfront, added a brace to give Arsenal a comfortable 3-0 win in the Czech Republic.

While it was an impressive display, Arsenal also matched a long-standing record.

This was Arsenal’s eighth consecutive victory across all competitions without conceding a goal this season, a joint record for an English top-division side along with Preston in 1889 and Liverpool in 1920.

Mikel Merino celebrates scoring Arsenal’s third goal. (Photo by Gabriel Kuchta/Getty Images)

Arsenal’s record-equalling dream run of victories started with a 2-0 win over Olympiacos in the Champions League on October 1, after which they beat teams like West Ham, Fulham, Crystal Palace, Atletico Madrid and Burnley.

The last time Mikel Arteta’s side conceded a goal was against Newcastle United in the Premier League on September 28, although the Gunners still clinched the clash 2-1. Overall, they are on a 10-match winning streak across all competitions.

Max Dowman became the youngest player ever to appear in a Champions League match. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

It was an historical day for Arsenal as Max Downman also became the youngest player ever to appear in a Champions League match, at just 15 years and 308 days, when he came on as a 72nd-minute substitute in place of Jurrien Timber.

The teenager shattered the record previously held by Borussia Dortmund’s Youssoufa Moukoko, who was 16 years and 18 days when he made his debut in 2020.

Dowman has been training with the senior side under Arteta since the start of the season and made his debut for the club in their 5-0 win over Leeds United in the Premier League.