Bukayo Saka scored twice and Kai Havertz netted the other as Arsenal recorded a 3-0 victory over Monaco in Wednesday's Champions League fixture at the Emirates Stadium.
The result has moved the Gunners into third spot in the Champions League table, boasting 13 points from their six matches, five points behind leaders Liverpool, while Monaco sit 15th, now on 10 points from their six games in this season's competition.
Gabriel Jesus vs. Radoslaw Majecki was a talking point in the opening 45 minutes at the Emirates Stadium, with the Monaco goalkeeper twice denying the Arsenal forward with excellent saves.
The Gunners did take the lead in the 34th minute of the contest, though, with Jesus the provider, as the Brazilian's low cross was turned into the back of the net from close range by Saka.
Aleksandr Golovin's effort from distance, which fizzed wide of the post, was the closest that the visitors came to registering in the first period at the Emirates Stadium, with Mikel Arteta's side one goal ahead at the break; it might have been two, but Martin Odegaard passed up an excellent chance just before the interval, shooting wide from inside the box.
Thilo Kehrer headed a free kick just wide of the Arsenal goal early in the second period, before Breel Embolo sent a powerful effort past the post in the 65th minute, with Monaco much-improved after the break, but they were undone late on.
A mistake from Mohammed Salisu allowed Saka to score his second in the 78th minute, with the Englishman finishing from close range after the Monaco defender had left his goalkeeper short with a pass, and Havertz was quickly on the scene before it fell for the goalscorer.
Havertz then got his name on the scoresheet in the latter stages when he turned a strike from Saka into the back of the net.
Arsenal will face Dinamo Zagreb and Girona in their final two games in the league phase of this season's Champions League, while Monaco will tackle Aston Villa and Inter Milan in their last two fixtures.
ARSENAL VS. MONACO HIGHLIGHTS
Bukayo Saka goal vs. Monaco (34th min, Arsenal 1-0 Monaco)
Bukayo Saka with an easy finish following a brilliant Gabriel Jesus pass 😮💨
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 11, 2024
Some incredible play from Myles Lewis-Skelly on his first Champions League start 👏
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/GJHS03AXiD
Arsenal make the breakthrough in the 34th minute of the clash at the Emirates Stadium, as Saka turns a cross from Jesus into the back of the net from close range; Monaco's resistance is broken late in the first period here.
Bukayo Saka goal vs. Monaco (78th min, Arsenal 2-0 Monaco)
What a mistake from Mohammed Salisu 🫣
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 11, 2024
Bukayo Saka gets gifted his second goal of the night against Monaco 💫
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/HRztoPiYuA
Awful mistake from Monaco, as Salisu leaves his goalkeeper short inside the box; Havertz is first on the scene, and it then breaks for Saka, who finishes into the back of the net to surely secure all three points for the Gunners.
Kai Havertz goal vs. Monaco (88th min, Arsenal 3-0 Monaco)
It's another for Arsenal, this time through Kai Havertz 💥
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 11, 2024
Bukayo Saka get an assist on top of his 2️⃣ goals tonight 🤩
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/tNPuFFyutL
Arsenal have their third of the match, as Havertz turns a powerful strike from Saka into the back of the net; there is a check for a possible offside, but eventually it is confirmed that the Gunners have their third.
MAN OF THE MATCH - BUKAYO SAKA
© Imago
Saka netted a brace on Wednesday evening to help his side secure all three points against Monaco; both were relatively straightforward finishes for a player of his ilk, but it was another classy performance from the Englishman, who also provided an assist late on.
The 23-year-old also made two tackles and finished with a pass success rate of 85%, and there is little doubting that he was the best player on the field during the European affair with Monaco.
ARSENAL VS. MONACO MATCH STATS
Possession: Arsenal 55%-45% Monaco
Shots: Arsenal 16-7 Monaco
Shots on target: Arsenal 8-2 Monaco
Corners: Arsenal 3-1 Monaco
Fouls: Arsenal 12-7 Monaco
BEST STATS
18 - Aged 18 years and 76 days, Myles Lewis-Skelly is the youngest player to start a UEFA Champions League match for Arsenal since Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in September 2011 vs. Olympiakos (18y 44d). Blessing. pic.twitter.com/l7ZBjQ4GU5
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 11, 2024
Bukayo Saka has both scored and assisted in five separate Champions League games since the start of last season.
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 11, 2024
He loves the big stage 🤩 pic.twitter.com/bI7Jgmh6lm
Only two Premier League players have been directly involved in 20+ goals across all competitions this season.
— Squawka (@Squawka) December 11, 2024
Bukayo Saka (21) 🤝Mohamed Salah (28) pic.twitter.com/N2DnTQaO0y
WHAT NEXT?
Both sides will now switch their attention back to domestic matters, with Arsenal welcoming Everton to the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon; the Gunners are currently third in the Premier League table, six points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand.
Monaco, meanwhile, will return to domestic action away to Reims on Saturday night; Adi Hutter's side are currently third in the Ligue 1 table, five points behind the leaders Paris Saint-Germain.
Matt Law
