Arsenal secure comfortable 3-0 win over Monaco

Despite not performing up, Arsenal secured maximum points on match day eight of the UEFA Champions League against AS Monaco.

The Gunners had the chance to be out of sight after Bukayo Saka’s opener but were wasteful in the final third. If they had converted those chances, they would have been out of sight.

With the scoreline at 1-0 after the first 45 minutes, the visitors played better than their hosts. Still, they got punished for the second as Saka got his brace by placing the ball in the top corner after substitute Kai Havertz had challenged the goalie over a back pass.

The German forward finally got his goal after guiding in Saka’s snapshot.

The victory moves Arsenal towards the last 16 qualifications, as they are amongst the top eight teams. The Gunners are currently third in the Champions League standings with two games to play.

Apart from an Aleksandr Golovin strike, which went inches wide of David Raya’s post, Arsenal head up from the very first whistle.

Arsenal had the chance to take the lead earlier than they did, but Gabriel Jesus was denied twice when Radoslaw Majecki cleared through on goal.

Arsenal finally got a breakthrough in the 34th minute when Jesus teed up Bukayo Saka after good work from Myles Lewis-Skelly, who made his first Champions League start for the Gunners.

The hosts had the chance to break, but skipper Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli both fired wide of the far post from close range, keeping  Monaco in the game.

Monaco almost restored parity at the beginning of the second half as Lamine Camara’s free-kick picked out Thilo Kehrer, whose header was off the upright.

The visitors failed to punish Arsenal level midway through the second period when William Saliba uncharacteristically gifted possession to Takumi Minamino. The former Liverpool player released Breel Embolo in the penalty area and turned Jakub Kiwior inside out; the Switzerland striker fired a low shot agonizingly wide.

They doubled their lead after a gift from goalkeeper Majecki. Under pressure from Odegaard, the goalie passed the ball straight to Saka, who made no mistake for his second goal of the night.

Substitute  Havertz then put the result beyond doubt with a late goal. If Arsenal win in their next fixture at home to Dinamo Zagreb on January 22, they would more than likely secure qualification to the last 16.