Arsenal boosted their chances of securing a direct spot in the Champions League round of 16 with a 3-0 victory over Monaco on Wednesday evening in the sixth round of the group stage.
Bukayo Saka netted a brace for Arsenal, scoring in the 34th and 78th minutes, while Kai Havertz added a third goal.
With this victory, Arsenal increased their tally to 13 points, securing third place, while Monaco remained at 10 points in sixteenth position.
Arsenal took the lead early in the fourth minute when Gabriel Jesus intercepted a pass from a defender and fired a shot past Monaco goalkeeper Radoslav Majecki.
In the sixth minute, Jesus missed a cross from his Spanish teammate Mikel Merino, and Monaco responded just minutes later when Wandersen outpaced Lewis Skelly, and the ball found its way to Russian striker Golovin, whose shot went wide of the right post from the edge of the penalty area.
Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard attempted a shot over the bar in the 20th minute after getting the better of Monaco’s Magassa. He tried again in the 24th minute, this time dribbling past an opponent before sending a shot wide of the left post. A minute later, a long ball found Jesus in front of Majecki, but the Monaco goalkeeper made a brilliant save.
Majecki was again called into action in the 28th minute, when Jesus received a pass from Gabriel Martinelli, beat Kehrer, and shot at goal, but the keeper saved with his left hand.
Finally, Arsenal broke the deadlock in the 34th minute with a swift counter-attack. Jesus passed the ball from the left, and Bukayo Saka calmly slotted it into the net to give Arsenal the lead.
Ødegaard missed another opportunity in the 39th minute when he failed to convert a quick counter-attack, shooting wide of the goal. Two minutes later, Ødegaard played a clever pass to Martinelli, but the Brazilian’s shot from the left side also went wide of the post.
At halftime, Monaco made a change, bringing on Japanese Takumi Minamino for Magassa. The French side had a chance to score early in the second half with a free kick from Camara, which was directed at Kehrer’s head, but the header missed the target.
Monaco nearly equalized in the 63rd minute when Minamino received a pass from Henrique, but Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya made an excellent save to keep the lead intact.
Arsenal made several substitutions, bringing on Jurrien Timber, Jorginho, and Leandro Trossard for Lewis Skelly, Declan Rice, and Martinelli. In the 65th minute, Minamino set up Embolo for a chance, but the Monaco striker’s shot went wide.
Kai Havertz replaced Jesus in the 70th minute, and Trossard had a chance to extend the lead in the 74th minute, receiving a pass from Havertz but shooting over the bar.
The second goal came in the 78th minute, when Saka capitalized on confusion in the Monaco defence. Salisu and goalkeeper Majecki failed to clear the ball, and Saka was quick to slot it home from close range.
Arsenal continued to press and nearly added a third in the 85th minute when Trossard fired a shot that missed the goal.
Finally, in the 88th minute, Havertz scored Arsenal’s third goal, receiving a pass from Saka and finishing despite pressure from Kehrer.
