Arsenal 3-0 Monaco: Match report and talking points as Gunners edge closer to Champions League last 16 | OneFootball

Arsenal climbed to third in the Champions League league phase table on Wednesday evening as they beat Monaco 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners entered the half-time break with a one-goal cushion as Bukayo Saka opened the scoring, but their profligacy vexed Mikel Arteta on the touchline as missed opportunities left the match within Monaco's grasp.

The visitors offered glimpses of their quality after the restart but a defensive gaffe allowed Saka to grab his second of the game with 12 minutes of normal time remaining. Kai Havertz then added some gloss to the scoreline in the dying embers as Saka grabbed an assist.

Arsenal will qualify automatically for the last 16 of the Champions League if they can retain their spot in the top eight. They face Dinamo Zagreb and Girona in their remaining league phase matches, which will take place early in the new calendar year.

How the game unfolded

Arsenal sought to take their Fulham frustrations out on the youthful Monaco side that turned up at the Emirates but they had failed to inspire the home crowd by the midway point of the first half. In fact, it was the visitors who carved out the most promising opening, Aleksandr Golovin bending a foot wide of David Raya's goal.

Gabriel Jesus had scored just once in 31 appearances prior to Wednesday evening - a strike against Championship side Preston North End in the Carabao Cup - and the misfiring Brazilian's lack of confidence in front of goal was on full show. He spurned two glorious chances in as many minutes as the sprawling Radoslaw Majecki denied him from close range.

However, Jesus redeemed himself in the 34th minute as Arsenal ended their wait for a goal from open play. Myles Lewis-Skelly starred in the strike as he neatly evaded a Monaco challenge before releasing Jesus, with the striker proceeding to pick out the unmarked Saka at the far post for the simplest of tap-ins.

Arsenal's chief creator Martin Odegaard had an excellent opportunity to double his side's advantage shortly after the opener, but the skipper uncharacteristically fluffed his lines. After robbing Soungoutou Magassa on the halfway line, Odegaard raced through on goal before inexplicably sliding his effort wide.

Gabriel Martinelli was a tad fortunate not to receive a second yellow card in the closing minutes of the first half, twice fouling Monaco players as the visitors looked to mount swift counter-attacks

Monaco had barely laid a glove on Arsenal during the first half but made a bright start to the second. The Gunners were not secure with only a one-goal cushion, with Thilo Kehrer's header and Breel Embolo's low drive both coming close to providing the visitors with an equaliser.

But hopes of a Monaco comeback faded in the 78th minute as Saka scored his second of the match following a defensive error from the Ligue 1 outfit. Mohammed Salisu's hospital pass forced Majecki into a dismal clearance, with the Arsenal winger prospering to bag his brace.

There was even time for Havertz to add his name to the scoresheet in the dying embers. Saka was once again involved as he claimed a second ball in the penalty area and struck towards goal, with the ball deflecting off the German forward and beyond Majecki for an Arsenal third.

Check out the player ratings from Arsenal vs Monaco here.

Bukayo Saka stars as Arsenal end open play goal drought

Bukayo Saka was the difference / Shaun Botterill/GettyImages

Much had been made of Arsenal's inability to score from open play in recent outings. The Gunners needed set-pieces to edge past Manchester United before once again relying on corners to earn a point at Fulham as they stumbled in the Premier League title race.

It appeared as if it may be another frustrating evening for the Gunners early in proceedings as they failed to sparkle in the final third, but a flurry of late chances in the first half turned the tide. Of course, the indefatigable Saka was at the heart of things.

The energetic winger didn't produce his most influential performance, but made the difference in key moments. He found the perfect spot in the penalty area to fire Arsenal ahead following a slick move and then grabbed his second of the evening with an opportunistic strike following a Monaco error.

Naturally, he forced Arsenal's third, too. Saka's effort was goal-bound before it struck Havertz's lower leg and ricocheted beyond Majecki, denying the winger a first hat-trick in red and white. He won't be overly concerned, however, and Arsenal supporters will be relieved to see their side playing with a swagger once more in open play.

The best and worst of Gabriel Jesus

Jesus produced a mixed performance / Justin Setterfield/GettyImages

Jesus has understandably infuriated Arsenal supporters with his displays over the past 12 months. The 27-year-old has been usurped as the club's leading number nine by Kai Havertz on account of his wastefulness in front of goal, with just two strikes to his name in 2024.

Confidence can't be high for the Brazil international and that showed as he failed to beat Monaco goalkeeper Majecki as two excellent first-half chances fell his way. The first saw Jesus opt for power over placement as the Polish stopper backtracked and the second once again lacked the precision to open the scoring.

However, Jesus is nothing if not persistent and he was rewarded for his energy and endeavour shortly afterwards. Finding a pocket of space inside the penalty area, he produced a neat first touch and pinpoint delivery to allow Saka a straightforward finish at the back post.

The wait for a second goal of the season goes on but Jesus proved his effectiveness in the final third with his general link-up play. Another jumbled performance from the centre-forward.

Myles Lewis-Skelly makes his mark

Lewis-Skelly was key in Arsenal's first-half strike / Justin Setterfield/GettyImages

Several eyebrows were raised when the Arsenal team sheet included 18-year-old Lewis-Skelly. The young and versatile left-back, who is equally comfortable in midfield, has made plenty of appearances for the Gunners this term, but many expected Kieran Tierney to be handed an increasingly rare start.

Lewis-Skelly offered something unique at left-back, with the teenager inverting and overloading the midfield when Arsenal were in possession. He offered a route out when Monaco pressed and was essential in creating the opener as he supplied assist-provider Jesus following an exquisite touch and pass.

The academy graduate kept the lively Maghnes Akliouche quiet at the other end and left the field in the 64th minute with a clean sheet to his name following another impressive outing.

Champions League qualification almost in the bag for Arsenal

Arsenal have risen to third in the table / Catherine Ivill - AMA/GettyImages

Arsenal made pretty light work of Monaco, even if there was the odd scare. While the result was all that mattered as the league phase draws to a close, the performance will have pleased Arteta to no end.

The Gunners' victory sees them rise to third in the table, the position they will stay in until their final two matches in 2025. With fixtures against Dinamo Zagreb and Girona to come, it feels as if Arsenal have done enough to secure safe passage directly to the last 16.

Getting over the line could be tricky given the Champions League's ability to spring a surprise, but Wednesday's victory means Arsenal are lookng likely certainly going to avoid the knockout play-offs. That could be enormous in their battle for silverware in other competitions, too.