Arsenal’s Champions League top-two push has much bigger stakes than expected

Arsenal's Champions League matches during the league phase feel simply less important and are thereby not especially entertaining, given the low stakes. The Gunners are in a privileged position of knowing they do not have to exert an enormous amount of energy to secure a top eight finish, thereby going straight through to the round of 16.

Half way through the league phase, Mikel Arteta's team have ten points, following Wednesday's frankly unmemorable 2-1 victory over Slavia Prague. Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyökeres on target during the first half in the Czech capital, with the visitors pretty much cruising thereafter.

This result leaves Arsenal third in the gigantic league table, below only Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, both of whom boast perfect records, the latter only doing so thanks to a late turnaround in Athens. Liverpool, Real Betis and Aston Villa, all of whom won their first three, were beaten this week.