A draw last night ensured Arsenal’s qualification for the Champions League knockout stage, but it did nothing to assuage reservations about their lack of firepower and creativity in the absence of Cesc Fàbregas. Arsenal’s sole effort on target came in the final moments, when a header from Emmanuel Adebayor was easily saved, and the only fireworks came from a supporter in the crowd.

Arsène Wenger’s team have made comfortable and not typically light work of an average set of teams in group H and are guaranteed a place in the round of 16 because of a better head-to-head record with Slavia Prague, whom they overwhelmed 7-0 two weeks ago.

A bitter chill and torrential rain made for testing conditions at the Evzena Rosickeho Stadium and in the circumstances, Wenger was happy with the result, but Arsenal’s merits will be properly appraised only after far tougher tests.

They extended an unbeaten run to 26 matches in all competitions, dating back to last season, but it was achieved without the grace and elegance by which the season has been marked. Instead, this was a disjointed, disorderly and haphazard display.

The perfectionist in Wenger – the Frenchman was celebrating his 100th match in the competition, from the group stages – may not have enjoyed his side’s attacking display, but this was merely a blip after passing significant tests against Liverpool and Manchester United in the Barclays Premier League in the past two weeks.

After admitting that he did not like tinkering too much with his lineup, Wenger made eight changes from the side who drew 2-2 against United on Saturday. It was a bold move, but Arsenal’s prospects of challenging on several fronts this term could depend on the capabilities of their fringe players.

In the manager’s defence, Kolo Touré and Tomas Rosicky were enforced absentees because of injury and Fàbregas was rested, with important league matches against Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur before Christmas.

Nicklas Bendtner, given his first start in European competition, was isolated up front in an unusual 4-2-3-1 system in which he was supported by three players from midfield. Unfortunately for the Denmark forward, only Abou Diaby looked like sensibly linking up. Theo Walcott ran briskly, but without an end product, while many of the other fringe players failed to take their opportunity.

Eduardo da Silva, the Croatia striker, is proving slow to adapt to the Arsenal way after his summer move from Dynamo Zagreb. His one half-chance went in the blink of an eye after a poor first touch when in space in the penalty area.

Alexandre Song, 20, made his first significant start at centre back. Apart from a few jittery moments, he dealt well with the danger, notably when he went to ground to smother the threat from Daniel Pudil after a low cross.

Manuel Almunia has failed to convince that he is any less error-prone than Jens Lehmann in the Arsenal goal, but he coped with what was thrown in front of him when saving twice from Zdenek Senkerik.

Slavia were offered another opportunity from a mistake after the break. Gilberto Silva was outmuscled in midfield and, while he complained to the referee, Matej Krajcik burst through and slid a clever pass to Senkerik. The forward’s touch was a little heavy and, as he lost the ball, he was upended by Lassana Diarra. Appeals for a penalty were waved away. As Slavia pressed, Pudil’s curling free kick was clipped narrowly wide by Marek Suchy. It was not pretty.

Group H

Slavia Prague (4-4-1-1): M Vorel – F Drizdal, M Suchy, E Brabec, D Hubacek – M Krajcik, M Svec, T Tavares, D Pudil (sub: T Jablonsky, 90min) – V Smicer (sub: D Kalivoda, 64) – Z Senkerik (sub: M Ivana, 77).

Arsenal (4-2-3-1): M Almunia – L Diarra, W Gallas, A Song, G Clichy – Gilberto Silva, Denilson – T Walcott, A Diaby, Eduardo da Silva (sub: E Eboué, 81) – N Bendtner (sub: E Adebayor, 77).