We made it four wins out of four in the Champions League, and equalled a club record for eight consecutive clean sheets, with a 3-0 win in the Czech capital. 

Mikel Merino – starting up front in place of the injured Viktor Gyokeres – netted a second-half double to extend his incredible goalscoring feats this year. 

Bukayo Saka had earlier given us a first-half lead, scoring from the penalty spot after Gabriel Magalhaes saw his header deflected away via an errant hand.

There was even time for Max Dowman to become the youngest player in Champions League history, when he came on for the final 20 minutes

Early defending

We entered the game with a bucketful of confidence, having won our last nine games in all competitions, not conceding in any of the last seven. Gabriel nearly gave us the perfect start when his hooked shot from the edge of the area went just wide in the first minute.

But the Czech league leaders and reigning champions looked to assert themselves early and worked themselves into shooting positions four times in the opening 10 minutes, but missed the target each time.

Physically imposing centre forward Tomas Chory looked...