Bukayo Saka bagged a brace as Arsenal ran out comfy 3-0 winners over Monaco within the Champions League.
Saka discovered the online in each halves, with substitute Kai Havertz including a 3rd, as Mikel Arteta’s aspect emerged victorious from the sport they largely dominated on the Emirates.
The consequence lifts the Gunners as much as third within the Champions League desk, whereas Monaco drop to sixteenth.
A very good evening’s work in N5 💪 pic.twitter.com/DomVfQTa0t
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 11, 2024
Each groups had been trying to construct on spectacular begins to their respective European campaigns.
Degree on factors within the desk, little or no separated the 2 sides earlier than kick off. Their intentions had been equally matched: break into the highest eight to safe computerized qualification to the Spherical of 16.
But it surely was the house aspect who seemed to be extra up for the duty. Gabriel Jesus supplied an early effort on purpose however his shot may solely discover the arms of Radoslaw Majecki within the Monaco purpose.
Mikel Merino then fired the ball throughout the six-yard field as Arsenal settled into their rhythm.
Majecki once more saved effectively from Jesus on 25-minutes earlier than pulling off one other spectacular cease to disclaim the Brazilian moments later.
Teenage full-back Myles Lewis-Skelly was making his first begin within the Champions League for the Gunners. And the 18-year-old, who barely put a foot unsuitable all night, performed a key position in opening the scoring.
After swivelling away from an opponent, his cross discovered Jesus whose low cross was smashed in on the again submit by Saka.
Monaco’s younger staff had, in glimpses, been straightforward on the attention, however the host’s purpose got here as little shock with Arteta’s aspect starting to point out their class.
Such dominance ought to have yielded a second purpose when Martin Odegaard burst clear one on one. However the Arsenal captain despatched his shot huge of the mark when he ought to have finished so much higher.
Bukayo Saka with a straightforward end following an excellent Gabriel Jesus cross 😮💨
Some unbelievable play from Myles Lewis-Skelly on his first Champions League begin 👏
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/GJHS03AXiD
— Soccer on TNT Sports activities (@footballontnt) December 11, 2024
After the break, the guests introduced on former Liverpool ahead Takumi Minamino. The change appeared to breathe new life into Monaco.
Minamino first discovered the gloves of David Raya with a tame effort earlier than the Japanese worldwide discovered Breel Embolo however the Swiss striker spurned his fierce shot narrowly huge.
Arsenal, in the meantime, struggled to wrestle again their first-half momentum. Leandro Trossard despatched a shot over the bar earlier than Merino flicked a header astray.
However simply when it appeared the Gunners is perhaps in for a cagey closing 15-minutes, they had been handed a second purpose when a disastrous error from Majecki gifted Saka his second of the evening.
Arsenal had rediscovered their mojo, whereas the two-goal deficit appeared to knock the stuffing out the guests.
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 online.
Arsenal go into the busy home festive interval trying very wholesome on the continent.