ARSENAL 3-0 MONACO: Bukayo Saka showed his wasteful Arsenal teammates how it was done against Monaco as the Gunners found a route past the Ligue 1 side
Bukayo Saka
Bukayo Saka scored twice against Monaco
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Image: Getty Images)
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A Bukayo Saka brace helped Arsenal to see off Monaco in the Champions League.
Gabriel Jesus wasted two huge chances to open the scoring, before he teed-up Saka for the opener. Captain Martin Odegaard should have given Arsenal a comfortable lead heading into the break but also spurned a golden opportunity.
The Gunners eventually got over the line with 15 minutes remaining. Monaco attempted to play out from the back but ended up giving the ball away.
Saka was the beneficiary as he fired home a second and all-but secured three points for Mikel Arteta's side. The Arsenal star went hunting for a hat-trick in the closing stages but his late effort was deflected home by Kai Havertz - denying him his treble. Here are all of the talking points from the Emirates:
Jesus' woes go on
There's not getting around it, Gabriel Jesus is having an awful season. The Brazilian has just one goal in all competitions - that coming in the Carabao Cup against Preston.
Jesus had two wonderful chances to end his drought against Monaco but on both occasions failed to beat Radosław Majecki. He was at first released in-behind Jakub Kiwior but fired straight at the Monaco keeper.
He then had another chance one-one-one after a clever pass from Gabriel Martinelli but was thwarted by Majecki yet again. Given his poor finishing and less than inspiring record, it's surely going to get more and more difficult to ignore the appeals for a new forward.
Gabriel Jesus
Gabriel Jesus endured a tricky evening in front of goal vs Monaco
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Image:
Getty Images)
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Saka scores again (twice)
And while Jesus struggled to find the net, the Brazilian was on hand to supply the assist for Saka's opener. Myles Lewis-Skelly showed plenty of composure to play through Jesues, who produced a teasing cross.
Saka was unmarked to tap home into the empty net. It represented the 23-year-old's eighth goal across what is already turning into a stunning campaign. He then doubled his evening's work as Monaco lost the ball at the back.
It's simply not justified to point to Saka's growing commitment, he is simply crucial already. And Arteta will hope he stays fight and firing over what is due to be a hectic festive period.
Finishing touch missing
To be fair to Jesus, it wasn't just him who was guilty of spurning some glorious opportunities. Both Odegaard and Martinelli should really have gotten themselves on the scoresheet.
The Norwegian's miss was worse as he somehow placed his shot wide when through one-on-one. Martinelli then also should have doubled the lead but curled a low effort off target.
Arsenal were dominant - and should have been well clear at the break - but there was always a sense that they might eventually rue their wastefulness.
Arsenal's finishing against Monaco left a lot to be desired
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Image:
Getty Images)
Martinelli escapes red
And while their poor finishing could have cost the Gunners, a lack of discipline could well have bitten them too. After all, the North London side have already been handed out three red cards this season in the Premier League.
They should maybe have had another one against Monaco. Martinelli was initially booked for hauling down Aleksandr Golovin.
And he should potentially have been cautioned once again after halting a Monaco count-attack. The referee elected not to given him a second booking though.
Lewis-Skelly impresses
Ahead of the game, there was a huge surprise on the teamsheet. Many were expecting Kieran Tierney to be drafted in amid an injury crisis.
But instead academy graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly started at left-back instead. And the young Gunner had a positive evening.
Faced with Maghnes Akliouche, he managed to keep the Monaco star relatively quiet. And he was equally adept offensively - his ball into Jesus setting the winning goal in motion. Lewis-Skelly certainly did his chances of more minutes no harm at all.
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