It looked like it would be a nervy 90 minutes at least for Arsenal fans in their second leg tie against Slavia Prague away against a side that hadn't lost at home all season.

However, a brilliant performance from the Gunners has seen them through to the Europa League semi-finals. Here's how they did it.

Quick Start

A problem all season for Arsenal has been slow starts. Mikel Arteta has been openly frustrated in press conferences and would have insisted for a quick start today.

That's exactly what he got with Arsenal pressing from the start and were rewarded with three goals in 20 minutes which put the tie to bed. Even after the frustration of having a goal disallowed Arsenal quickly got the first goal a couple of minutes later.

Great goals

The game against Sheffield United had phases of vintage Arsenal and glimpses of what Mikel Arteta is trying to build at Arsenal. More excellent goals tonight in such a vital game was incredible to see.

The first goal showed great composure from Emile Smith Rowe and Nicolas Pepe who finished coolly just as he did last week. 

Smith Rowe was heavily involved in the second goal as well with direct running towards the defence and a nice pull-back to Saka who was fouled just as he went to shoot. Lacazette was calm from the spot sending the keeper the wrong way.

Saka is mobbed by his teammates after his great goal Photo by Martin Sidorjak viaGetty Images
Saka is mobbed by his teammates after his great goal Photo by Martin Sidorjak viaGetty Images

The third goal was the pick of the bunch with Calum Chambers sweeping the ball out wide to Bukayo Saka. The youngster took on a defender before superbly finishing in the near post.

It was a great finish from a player who has been superb all season but has been criticised for his finishing in recent weeks.

Almost perfect performance

In their biggest game of a difficult season, Arsenal stepped up when it mattered and massive credit needs to go to Mikel Arteta and his players.

It was a crucial game for Arteta with his job potentially on the line but he got the team selection spot on and got his players motivated for the game.

The players played without fear from the start throughout and kept Slavia under pressure in the first half getting the goals and managing the game expertly in the second.

Man of the Match

Emile Smith Rowe

Smith Rowe took on Slavia players all evening Photo by Michal Cizek via Getty images
Smith Rowe took on Slavia players all evening Photo by Michal Cizek via Getty images

Chambers and Saka were absolutely excellent and no Arsenal player performed badly but Smith Rowe was an absolute stand out.

He was incredibly unlucky to have a goal ruled out for offside, just being slightly off following in from Saka's shot. It would have been perfectly understandable for the 20 year olds head to drop but he immediately picked himself and got an assist for Pepe with some great ball control and a cheeky nutmeg.

He was heavily involved in the second goal laying the ball to Saka before he was fouled in the box.

What Next

Arsenal face Fulham on Sunday afternoon in the Premier League. More importantly they will face a familiar face in a couple of weeks when they face Spanish side Villarreal  in the semi-final. Ex-Gunners manager Unai Emery manages Villarreal and both sides will be even more focused to get through to the final in Poland.