Bukayo Saka’s double fired Arsenal a step nearer to the Champions League final 16 because the England ahead impressed a 3-0 win in opposition to Monaco on Wednesday. Saka netted late in every half and Kai Havertz struck within the closing minutes on the Emirates Stadium to carry Mikel Arteta’s facet into third place within the revamped league part. The Gunners have received 4 of their six European video games this time period and, with two matches remaining, they management their future within the race for the top-eight end that ensures automated progress to the final 16. Clubs that end ninth to twenty fourth within the 36-team first part face a play-off to find out if they’ll advance.
With video games in opposition to Dinamo Zagreb and Girona to return in January, the north Londoners will probably be assured of avoiding that undesirable impediment.
After a dangerous 1-1 draw in opposition to Fulham within the Premier League final weekend, Arsenal’s fifth win of their final six video games in all competitions was a welcome tonic.
With Arsenal’s defensive harm disaster displaying no indicators of abating, Gabriel Magalhaes, Ben White, Riccardo Calafiori, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu have been all absent.
That meant Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey began out of place at right-back regardless of lacking coaching on Tuesday.
Myles Lewis-Skelly, 18, got here in at left-back for simply his second Arsenal begin, along with his different coming within the League Cup in opposition to third-tier Bolton.
The youngest participant to begin a Champions League match for Arsenal since Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in 2011, Lewis-Skelly rose to the event with a composed show.
In distinction, Gabriel Jesus has gone 32 video games with no purpose for Arsenal and the Brazilian’s insecurity was clear within the hosts’ first harmful assault.
Picked out by Gabriel Martinelli’s cross, Jesus ought to have hit the goal however may solely muster a tame shot straight at Monaco keeper Radoslaw Majecki.
Jesus didn’t time his run nicely sufficient to achieve Mikel Merino’s teasing cross moments later.
Aleksandr Golovin practically caught out Arsenal keeper David Raya with a long-range strike that fizzed simply previous the far publish.
Jesus’ travails confirmed no indicators of ending as a raking lengthy cross despatched him clear by for a low shot that was too near Majecki.
The 27-year-old was having a torrid time and, teed up by Martinelli, once more he could not beat Majecki with a close-range effort that drew a fantastic save from the ‘keeper.
But Jesus’ intelligent motion was no less than inflicting Monaco issues and he performed a key function in Arsenal’s Thirty fourth-minute opener.
Lewis-Skelly slipped an excellent cross to Jesus, who ran in behind the Monaco defence and delivered a low cross that offered Saka with a easy tap-in for his fourth purpose in his final six video games.
Martin Odegaard squandered a golden alternative to double Arsenal’s lead simply earlier than half-time as he robbed Soungoutou Magassa, however fired large with solely Majecki to beat.
Thilo Kehrer ought to have made Arsenal pay for his or her profligacy early within the second half, however his header flashed large from 10 yards.
Arteta’s males misplaced focus for an extended interval after the break and Takumi Minamino examined Raya earlier than Breel Embolo drilled inches large following sloppy defending from William Saliba.
But Arsenal emerged unscathed and wrapped up the factors within the 78th minute.
Majecki did not clear his traces rapidly sufficient when Havertz put the ‘keeper underneath strain, permitting Saka to steer his shot into the empty internet from shut vary.
There was nonetheless time for Arsenal to place additional gloss on the scoreline within the 88th minute as Havertz turned in Saka’s shot.
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