Bukayo Saka bagged a brace as Arsenal ran out comfortable 3-0 winners over Monaco in the Champions League.
Saka found the net in both halves, with substitute Kai Havertz adding a third, as Mikel Arteta’s side emerged victorious from a game they largely dominated at the Emirates.
The result lifts the Gunners up to third in the Champions League table, while Monaco drop to 16th.
A good night’s work in N5 💪 pic.twitter.com/DomVfQTa0t
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 11, 2024
Both teams had been looking to build on impressive starts to their respective European campaigns.
Level on points in the table, very little separated the two sides before kick off. Their intentions were similarly matched: break into the top eight to secure automatic qualification to the Round of 16.
But it was the home side who appeared to be more up for the task. Gabriel Jesus provided an early effort on goal but his shot could only find the hands of Radoslaw Majecki in the Monaco goal.
Mikel Merino then fired the ball across the six-yard box as Arsenal settled into their rhythm.
Majecki again saved well from Jesus on 25-minutes before pulling off another impressive stop to deny the Brazilian moments later.
Teenage full-back Myles Lewis-Skelly was making his first start in the Champions League for the Gunners. And the 18-year-old, who barely put a foot wrong all evening, played a key role in opening the scoring.
After swivelling away from an opponent, his pass found Jesus whose low cross was smashed in at the back post by Saka.
Monaco’s young team had, in glimpses, been easy on the eye, but the host’s goal came as little surprise with Arteta’s side beginning to show their class.
Such dominance should have yielded a second goal when Martin Odegaard burst clear one on one. But the Arsenal captain sent his shot wide of the mark when he should have done a lot better.
Bukayo Saka with an easy finish following a brilliant Gabriel Jesus pass 😮💨
Some incredible play from Myles Lewis-Skelly on his first Champions League start 👏
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/GJHS03AXiD
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 11, 2024
After the break, the visitors brought on former Liverpool forward Takumi Minamino. The change seemed to breathe new life into Monaco.
Minamino first found the gloves of David Raya with a tame effort before the Japanese international found Breel Embolo but the Swiss striker spurned his fierce shot narrowly wide.
Arsenal, meanwhile, struggled to wrestle back their first-half momentum. Leandro Trossard sent a shot over the bar before Merino flicked a header off target.
But just when it appeared the Gunners might be in for a cagey final 15-minutes, they were handed a second goal when a disastrous error from Monaco defender Mohammed Salisu gifted Saka his second of the night.
Arsenal had rediscovered their mojo, while the two-goal deficit appeared to knock the stuffing out the visitors.
And with three minutes of the 90 remaining, it was three when substitute Havertz directed Saka’s scuffed half-volley into the roof of the net.
Arsenal go into the busy domestic festive period looking very healthy on the continent.
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