Arsenal vs Monaco Review
Bukayo Saka netted two goals as Arsenal maintained their unbeaten streak at home in the UEFA Champions League, defeating Monaco 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium. Both teams entered the match with 10 points in the group stage, and Arsenal was eager to demonstrate that their recent 1-1 draw against Fulham was just a minor setback.
Although Gabriel Jesus came close to connecting with Mikel Merino’s low cross early in the game, the Gunners initially found it challenging to penetrate their opponents’ defense. A brilliant long pass from Jakub Kiwior midway through the first half showcased a different approach to creating chances, but Jesus was unable to finish past Radosław Majecki from a close distance. He soon had another opportunity to score after a precise pass from Gabriel Martinelli, but once again, Majecki thwarted him.
Arsenal had been creating more opportunities, so it was no surprise when they took the lead in the 34th minute. Myles Lewis-Skelly, making his full debut in the UCL, skillfully maneuvered past Maghnes Akliouche and set up Jesus, who found Saka at the back post for an easy goal. Ødegaard must have been frustrated after missing a chance following a quick interception, while Martinelli was walking a tightrope just before halftime after receiving a yellow card.
Right after the break, Monaco showed they could be dangerous from set-pieces when captain Thilo Kehrer headed off target. Despite some improvement, the visitors still failed to challenge David Raya significantly, with Breel Embolo shooting wide. However, they made a mistake while trying to play out from the back, Mohammed Salisu misplayed a pass to Majecki, who, pressured by Kai Havertz, had to play the ball directly to Saka, who scored easily in the 78th minute to extend Arsenal’s lead. The final goal came 10 minutes later when Havertz redirected Saka’s shot after a quick free-kick.
After making progress towards the knockout stage, Arsenal will be eager to continue their scoring streak at the Emirates when they face Everton on Saturday. On the same day, Monaco will also be back in league play and still have a shot at securing a top-eight finish in the UCL league phase.
