Bukayo Saka scored as Arsenal comfortably won 3-0 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 largely dominated game at the Emirates.
The result moves the Gunners up to third in the Champions League table, while Monaco drop to 16th.
Good night at N5 💪 pic.twitter.com/DomVfQTa0t
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 11, 2024
Both teams were 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: they made it into the last eight to secure automatic qualification to the round of 16.
But it was the hosts who looked more up to the task. Gabriel Jesus had an early effort on goal, but his shot only found the hands of Radoslav Majecski in the Monaco goal.
Mikel Merino then volleyed the ball 6 yards out as Arsenal settled into their rhythm.
Majecki again saved well from Jesus on 25 minutes before making another impressive stop to deny the Brazilian moments later.
Teenage full-back Myles Lewis-Skelly made his first Champions League start for the Gunners. And the 18-year-old, who barely put a foot wrong all night, was instrumental in opening the scoring.
After getting clear of an opponent, his pass found Jesus whose low cross was smashed in at the back post by Saka.
Monaco’s young side were, in glimpses, easy on the eye, but the home side’s goal came as little surprise with Arteta’s side starting 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 when he should have done much better.
Bukayo Saka with an easy finish after a great pass from Gabriel Jesus 😮💨
Some incredible performances from Miles Lewis-Skelley on his first Champions League start 👏
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— Soccer on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 11, 2024
After the break, the visitors brought on former Liverpool striker 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 Japan international found Breel Embolo, but the Swiss striker parried his fierce shot just wide.
Arsenal, meanwhile, struggled to wrestle back their first-half momentum. Leandro Trossard sent a shot over the bar before Merino headed wide.
But just when it looked like the Gunners could be in for a close final 15 minutes, they were gifted a second goal when a disastrous error from Monaco defender Mohammed Salisu gifted Saka with his second goal of the night.
Arsenal had found their mojo again, while the two-goal deficit seemed to rule out the visitors’ charge.
And with three minutes of 90 remaining, it was three when substitute Havertz sent Saka’s half-volley into the roof of the net.
Arsenal head into the busy domestic festive season looking very healthy on the continent.
