ARSENAL are leading French outfit Monaco RIGHT NOW with a top-eight Champions League finish in their sights.
Bukayo Saka fired the Gunners ahead after a stunning move kicked off by 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly, who started at left-back.
But Arsenal have elsewhere been wasteful in front of goal, missing four clear chances in the first half alone.
Kick-off time: 8pm GMT
Live stream: discovery+
TV channel: TNT Sports 1
Arsenal starting team: Raya; Partey, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Rice, Merino, Odegaard; Saka, Martinelli, Jesus
Monaco starting team: Majecki; Vanderson, Salisu, Kehrer, Caio Henrique; Camara, Magassa, Golovin; Ben Seghir, Embolo, Akliouche
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Arsenal 1-0 Monaco
59. The corner is punched clear by Majecki, and both teams take the opportunity to reset.
Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta is preparing changes on the touchline.
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Arsenal 1-0 Monaco
57. Much better from the Gunners, and it's a upturn sparked by Mikel Merino.
The Spaniard turns brilliantly in midfield to counter the high pressure, and then finds Gabriel Martinelli on the left.
The Brazilian accelerates on the left, and his dangerous cross is eventually turned behind by Mohammed Salisu.
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Arsenal 1-0 Monaco
54. Arsenal have started the second period somewhat sloppily.
As a result, Monaco are starting to pile on the pressure without being overly threatening.
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Arsenal 1-0 Monaco
52. More sensible play from Lewis-Skelly at left-back to alleviate some danger.
The youngster has done well to deal with the threat of Maghnes Akliouche.
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Arsenal 1-0 Monaco
50. Minamo fires a 30-yarder off target.
And when I say 30-yarder, I mean that's how high the volley rose above David Raya's crossbar.
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Arsenal 1-0 Monaco
48. Close to an equaliser!
Former West Ham man Kehrer gets up highest to meet an inswinging free-kick from the right, and plants his header just wide of David Raya's goal.
In fact, he really should have netted the leveller.
A timely reminder to Arsenal that their lead is just a single goal.
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Kick-off - Arsenal 1-0 Monaco
46. There is a change to report at the start of the second half, but it's not the one we expected involving the tightrope-walking Gabriel Martinelli.
Instead, former Liverpool man Takumi Minamino is on for Monaco in place of Soungoutou Magassa, who had a clumsy first half.
Remarkably, Martinelli remains on.
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First half facts and figures
Arsenal go in ahead at the break, having won 20 of their last 23 Champions League games when leading at HT (D2 L1).
Their one defeat during that run came against Bayern Munich in March 2017.
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Half-time - Arsenal 1-0 Monaco
The half-time whistle brings the first 45 minutes to a close at the Emirates with Arsenal in the lead - and in control.
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Arsenal 1-0 Monaco
45. Oh my, Martinelli commits another foul, and lays face down on the turf, unable to make eye contact with the referee.
Once again, the Brazilian is given the benefit of the doubt, but I'll be amazed if we see him reappear for the second half.
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Arsenal 1-0 Monaco
44. What is Gabriel Martinelli doing?!
The Brazilian is the only player on a yellow card, and for some inexplicable reason has just raced 25 yards to trip up Lamine Camara from behind.
The Monaco fans are asking the question. The Monaco players are asking the question. But referee Davide Massa decides against produces a second yellow card.
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Arsenal 1-0 Monaco
42. Okay, perhaps Darren Fletcher was on to something when he questioned Monaco's defending.
The French outfit have gone to pieces since conceding the opener, and are only just about hanging on in the game.
Half-time can't come soon enough now.
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Arsenal 1-0 Monaco
40. Oh, it should be two!!
Magassa gives the ball away horribly in his own half, allowing Odegaard to race clear on goal.
With acres of space and just Majecki to beat, the captain cooly rolls his shot beyond the goalkeeper...
...and the far post.
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Arsenal 1-0 Monaco
38. Arsenal are ramping up the pressure ahead of half-time.
Martinelli seizes upon a loose ball inside the area, but fails to hit the target.
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Arsenal 1-0 Monaco
36. Monaco go looking for an immediate response.
A dangerous cross lofted into the area causes momentary alarm, but Embolo fails to get a telling touch with his attempted header.
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Arsenal 1-0 Monaco
34. Bukayo Saka taps in and Arsenal lead at the Emirates!
It's a simple finish from the Gunners' star boy, but one that owes so much to intelligent play from both Myles Lewis-Skelly and Gabriel Jesus.
The young left-back engineers the attack by playing the Brazilian striker into space, and he responds by sending a brilliant low ball across the face of goal.
Saka couldn't miss! He didn't miss! And Arsenal have lift-off on Matchday Six!
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Breakthrough!
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Arsenal 0-0 Monaco
31. The first yellow card of the night is shown to Gabriel Martinelli.
It's issued for a cynical shirt pull on Golovin, who was racing through the middle of the pitch.
A deserved booking.
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Arsenal 0-0 Monaco
29. The TNT duo of Fletcher and McCoist on commentary suggest that Monaco may be better going forward than when it comes to defending - words, you feel, they may yet come to regret.
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Arsenal 0-0 Monaco
27. Jesus is in again! He's denied again!
It's great football all around, first from Jesus, who takes a beautiful first touch to take himself away from his nearest defender and create space to exploit.
Not to be beaten, however, Monaco captain Kehrer races back and gets an important touch on the striker's shot, and that's enough to help Majecki make another fine save down low at the near post.
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Arsenal 0-0 Monaco
25. Jesus through on goal! He must score! Brilliant save by Majecki!
The Gunners go route one and a long raking pass from Lewis-Skelly sends his striker one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
As Jesus chests down, Monaco stopper Majecki retreats to his goalline, but comes up trumps a split-second later by sticking out a long leg to brilliantly block the subsequent shot.
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Arsenal 0-0 Monaco
23. Odegaard goes for the left-footed curler again, this time from much closer and inside the box.
The same issue persists, but there's enough in the effort to have Majecki scampering across his line and the Arsenal fans on their feet.
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Arsenal 0-0 Monaco
21. Arsenal retreat into a low block as Monaco knock the ball around nicely in the final third.
Eventually, Declan Rice steps in to win back possession.
An intriguing opening quarter to the contest.
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### Arsenal 0-0 Monaco
19. Lovely football from Saka and Odegaard opens up space for the latter just off the right flank.
The captain eyes up the top corner with a left-footer from the edge of the box, but can't get enough curl on the ball to trouble Majecki.
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### Arsenal 0-0 Monaco
16. Thomas Partey makes a mess of a throw-in to literally hand possession to Monaco.
"Is that a set-piece that went wrong?" ponders commentator Darren Fletcher.
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