Arsenal vs Monaco LIVE: Champions League result and reaction after Bukayo Saka double helps hosts to victory
Arsenal 3-0 Monaco: Kai Havertz added a third goal late on as Mikel Arteta’s side continued their strong Champions League campaign
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Your support makes all the difference.Arsenal took another step towards the Champions League knockout rounds as Bukayo Saka struck twice to help beat Monaco.
The hosts climbed back into the top eight of the league phase table with a 3-0 victory that always looked likely to be secured. Saka opened the scoring amid a flurry of first-half chances after good work in the build-up from youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly, utilised at left-back on his first Champions League start, and Gabriel Jesus.
And it was the England star who put the result beyond doubt 12 minutes from time, capitalising on a horrendous error in possession from visiting goalkeeper Radoslaw Majecki. Ten minutes later, a third arrived as Kai Havertz’s shin diverted a Saka drive on to Thilo Kehrer’s foot and into the roof of the net.
Three more points leave Arsenal well placed to secure a potentially vital top eight finish that would spare them the added inconvenience of a two-legged play-off fixture. They face Dinamo Zagreb and Girona in their final two fixtures in January.
Re-live all of the Champions League action in our live blog below:
Arsenal 0-0 Monaco, 12 minutes
Embolo is down clutching an ankle after a challenge from Mikel Merino, and the Emirates Stadium crowd aren’t happy at all when Arsenal put the ball out so he can be seen to. In fact, the medics aren’t even coming on - Embolo is helped back to his feet by a heave from referee Davide Massa, which draws a few jeers.
Arsenal 0-0 Monaco, 11 minutes
Soft from Breel Embolo, letting the ball bounce of a fleshy bit of his body after Monaco had worked the angles quite nicely to progress through midfield. The Swiss striker chases hard to try to atone for his error of control but Arsenal settle into possession.
Arsenal 0-0 Monaco, 9 minutes
Just wide! Aleksandr Golovin jinks by Declan Rice and releases a crisp strike that has David Raya scrambling. A foot or two wide of Raya’s left-hand post.
Arsenal 0-0 Monaco, 8 minutes
Merino is getting forward with relative regularity as Gabriel Martinelli holds width on the left. Monaco right-back Vanderson handles his compatriot well as Martinelli attempts to make inroads, and a neat piece of footwork from the full-back draws a free kick out of Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Arsenal 0-0 Monaco, 5 minutes
Arsenal again get joy down that left side, Mikel Merino this time breaking free from midfield. He fizzes across the face of Majecki with no teammate quite close enough to slide home.
Arsenal 0-0 Monaco, 3 minutes
First chance. Gabriel Jesus pinches possession on the edge of the Monaco box and is neatly played in thereafter. The striker tries to open his body up and curl for the corner but his low effort ends up straight at Radoslaw Majecki in the visitors’ goal.
Arsenal 0-0 Monaco, 3 minutes
Partey shows good strength to get away from Aleksandr Golovin, who eventually tugs him back as the makeshift right-back surges towards the halfway line.
Arsenal 0-0 Monaco, 2 minutes
Thomas Partey and Bukayo Saka collide, both down with a bump after the former had fouled Caio Henrique. No major harm done - Saka tugs his socks back up as he rises to his feet.
Arsenal 0-0 Monaco, 1 minute
A fast start from Monaco, immediately into their passing stride. The ball evades Maghnes Akliouche in an inside right position, though, to end the movement.
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