Arsenal: Raya, Partey, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Merino, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Jesus
Subs: Neto, Setford, Timber, Tierney, Robinson, Heaven, Monlouis, Jorginho, Nwaneri, Trossard, Sterling, Havertz
Arsenal moved up to third in the overall Champions League standings after beating Monaco 3-0 at Emirates Stadium, thanks to a brace from Bukayo Saka and another late goal from Kai Havertz.
Mikel Arteta made four changes to the side that drew against Fulham on Sunday, with Myles Lewis-Skelly, Mikel Merino, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus all coming into the side.
Gabriel and Riccardo Calafiori remained absent from the matchday squad, while Jurrien Timber was deemed fit enough for the bench despite not being spotted in open training.
Arsenal started brightly and there was a sight of goal for Jesus within five minutes after good pressing from Odegaard and Martinelli, but his finish was tame and straight into the body of goalkeeper Radoslaw Majecki.
Moments later, Martinelli found Merino making a smart run into the left half-space whose low cross was inches away from finding Jesus (on the stretch) in the middle. At the other end, Aleksandr Golovin flashed an effort inches wide after Jakub Kiwior lost the ball in a dangerous area.
The game settled after that eventful start and Martin Odegaard was the next player to try his luck, curling wide after finding space on the edge of the box, before Jesus should have put the Gunners ahead on 25 minutes.
Jakub Kiwior displayed his passing range with a great ball over the top, which played the Brazilian through on goal but his clunky effort was saved by Majecki who initially hesitated to come and claim the ball.
Jesus had another chance shortly after when Martinelli’s sharp pass played him through again, but his finish lacked conviction under pressure from Thilo Kehrer with Majecki forced into another strong save.
The Gunners’ first half pressure eventually told when Saka broke the deadlock, and it was a beautiful passing move that ended up creating the goal.
It was a long passage of sustained possession (which must have involved over 25 passes?), before Lewis-Skelly did well to evade pressure and punch a ball through to lines to Jesus, who crossed perfectly for Saka to finish at the back post. 1-0.
Odegaard should have doubled Arsenal’s lead after nicking the ball off Kehrer – who was sold short with a hospital backpass – but fired wide despite having the whole Monaco half to run into, and only the goalkeeper to beat.
There was another golden chance for Martinelli minutes later, who was found beautifully by Odegaard but curled wide with the visitors’ young side rocking defensively.
It was a dominant first half from Arteta’s men who looked balanced, threatening and could (should) have been three goals ahead with some better finishing.
Arsenal were almost made to rue those missed chances a minute into second half when Kehrer headed a free-kick wide after Thomas Partey played everyone onside.
The Gunners struggled to get going after the break and Monaco had two good chances to equalise when Caio Henrique found Takumi Minamino unmarked in the box – whose shot was straight at David Raya – before Breel Embolo fired another effort just wide after turning Kiwior in the box.
Those lucky escapes flicked Arteta into action who made a triple substitution, bringing on Timber, Jorginho and Leandro Trossard for Lewis-Skelly, Rice and Martinelli. Havertz replaced Jesus soon after as well.
It took until the 73rd minute for Arsenal to fashion their first real chance of the second half, but Trossard couldn’t find Odegaard despite a two-v-one situation against Monaco defender Mohammed Salisu.
The hosts would eventually get their all-important breathing room and it was Saka on the scoresheet (again) after a nightmare moment for the French side.
Trying to play the ball out from defence, Salisu underhit his backpass to Majecki which allowed Havertz to pressure the goalkeeper, whose pass deflected straight to Saka for an easy finish. 2-0.
All three points were secured in the 88th minute when Monaco switched off from a quick free kick, before the ball fell to Saka whose cross was diverted in by a mixture of Havertz and Kehrer from close range. 3-0.
It was a comfortable result for Arsenal in the end, who scored three goals from open play and moved up to third in the overall Champions League standings.
Their first half was significantly better than their second but wins are always welcome during this intense winter schedule.