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Momentum maintained with Monaco mauling

Suburban Gooners Logo Suburban Gooners Logo That, eventually, was a jolly nice evening in the end.

Don’t get me wrong, we had some perceived wobbles at times and particularly in the first half of yesterday’s ‘scoreline’ hammering of Monaco, we looked like that might be one of those “we’re going to regret missing our chances aren’t we?” kind of games. But eventually the truth kicked in and this thoroughly capable Arsenal team delivered a significant win in this ghastly Champions League format.

“Significant?” I hear you scoff?

Well, yes, because as Johnny and I ruminated over in the first half as the play unfolded in front of our eyes, this result was important.

Important because a draw or a defeat would probably leave us needing a win against Zagreb at home in the new year, as well as a result of some kind against Girona away in Spain, just before we play Man City. Given the way our injuries have hit us, we don’t need a) having to play a full strength team at Girona, and b) additional two games should we not finish in the top eight. Especially given Liverpool have done what they’ve done, meaning their chances of playing two extra games and suffering as a result, diminished somewhat with their win yesterday.

Thankfully we’ve put ourselves in a commanding position thanks in no part to Bukayo Saka. Boy, aren’t we indebted to him, eh? In the first half Johnny and I mused how he had been quiet. I posited to Johnny that he’s a player who is happy to tick along until the right moment, so when he popped up at the back post in that first half to tap home, my sage-like nodding to Johnny felt profound.

It isn’t really.

*NEWSFLASH: BEST PLAYER DELIVERS CRITICAL MOMENT FOR FOOTBALL TEAM*

Saka does. Constantly. And he was on hand to make the halftime beers perfectly palatable. He’s such an amazing footballer. Amazing in his ability to make simple things seem like anybody can do them. But they can’t. He is the master of efficiency and once again he delivered last night. Sure, his second goal was an absolute gift from the Monaco ‘keeper and defenders, but you still have to finish the job. And Saka did it almost as if he was saying with his feet “ahh, thanks for the early Christmas present guys, too kind!”

And clearly Monaco were feeling charitable in that second half, because we created so many more chances than in the first. Actually, scratch that, because maybe the signs were there in the first half too. Gabriel Jesus, for one, will be mighty glad he gets to ratchet up an assist for his ball across for Saka’s first goal, because he really should have been on the scoresheet. A ball in behind to leave him one-on-one with the ‘keeper should have opened the scoring, then shortly after he had another really presentable task that should have ended in him wheeling away in celebration.

Yet something is missing in him and I’m not sure we’ll ever get that back. That makes me sad for a footballer who looked so amazing when we signed him, but we’re getting to the point of no return here and I think Arteta knows it too.

That’s why Havertz came on in the second half and whilst Kai isn’t the most prolific footballer in the world, he delivered tonight, with a deft flick in at the near post to put a very comfortable look on the scoresheet. In 20 minutes he did more than Gabby J did with two (arguably) easier chances and at this stage I think we’re sadly getting to ‘end game’ with our hard-working Brazilian forward.

I’m trying my best not to go full “he’s done” here, but this game – in a competition we’ve always talked about how much he loves – feels like another unfortunate nail in his Arsenal coffin. I hope for nothing more than to be proven wrong.

It feels like a long shot right now. not, however, like Arsenal’s Champions League campaign. Win against Zagreb and it should be ‘job done’ for The Arsenal. That’s the target now. Do enough on game-week seven to make eight utterly irrelevant.

All-in-all, after the profligacy of the weekend (oh, wait, was that three open play goals??), this was a very welcome end product, even if there were some initial questions about the first half missed chances.

On some individual performances:

Martinelli vs Trossard – won’t somebody please take the bull by the horns and deliver the consistency to make yourself number one choice? Both have struggled from the start but looked decent from the bench

Kiwior – slowly building up his confidence. This will be important if the scary rumours of Gabriel are true.

Timber – cameo appearance, looked good, great to see him and hopefully he’s all good for the weekend

Rice – another good display and starting to do more of those driving runs

Lewis-Skelly – didn’t look like he put a foot wrong – possibly needed given out defensive problems this season

Nwaneri – another good cameo.

There’s not a load more to be focusing on with a night like this. Arteta was absolutely right to extol the virtues of his squad last night; he’s been consistent in his championing of his team and focusing on there being no excuses for under-performance given injuries. Last night showed just that. It was professional, it was composed, it had end product and it delivered the result we absolutely needed. In an age in which anything other than constant wins are deemed unacceptable, this Arsenal team continued to show that despite adversity, success can be found.

But, as is the situation where the demands are so high, it all counts for nothing if victory isn’t confirmed come 5pm on Saturday afternoon. The good news is that this team will go into that game at home to Everton full of confidence.

And right now, that’s all we can ask for.

Catch you sexy bitches tomorrow.

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Gooner born in 1982 from Harlow, Essex, now living in Uxbridge. I say what I see - frequently wrong, but hey, it's just an opinion piece, right? Leave a comment and let me know what you think.