Arsenal ultimately eased past Monaco with a 3-0 victory in a game where they gave an uneven performance but also showed the strength of their squad. Monaco were one place behind us at the start of the game. We began the game with four changes from Fulham on Sunday. Miles Lewis Skelly came in (to great effect) at left back. Jesùs, C100’s favourite player, led the attack with Saka and Martinelli wide.
Monaco began the game confidently going forward but at the same time looked extraordinarily brittle in defence and Arsenal opened them up at will in the first period. Jesus was set up twice (once by a quite stunning through ball from Kiwior) and saw the goalkeeper block both efforts. Ødegaard curled a shot wide of the left post and then later in the half took the ball unopposed from the halfway line only to slide the ball wide of the right post. Martinelli missed a very decent chance while flagged offside (he wasn’t) but we went to half-time ahead because of a beautifully worked move in the 34th minute .
A flowing move across the pitch saw the ball switched left to Lewis Skelly. He turned out of a strong challenge and threaded the ball beautifully to Jesùs who slid an excellent ball across the 6-yard box to Saka who passed it in at the far post with his right foot.
Arsenal 1 Monaco 0 – Saka, 34
We went to the interval in the lead on merit but the feeling in the ground was that we had been incredibly profligate in front of goal. We were also the beneficiaries of a piece of lenient officiating from the Italian referee who declined to give Martinelli a second yellow for an ill-judged trip when he was already on a yellow just before half-time. A PGMOL referee would almost certainly have punished the offence with a second yellow.
Half-time Arsenal 1 Monaco 0
It was noticeable tonight that the two overriding observations about Arsenal this season did not hold true. We were more creative on our left side than our right, playing a lot more down the left especially in the second half when Saka was isolated in a small segment in the right side trying to take down long passes from Raya under pressure with little space to work in.
We also had very little set piece activity (I can only recall two corners) and it was interesting that when we took the kicks Monaco kept several players upfield thus diluting our numbers in the box. Just before our second corner, Arteta called over Jorginho and it looked as if he wanted Arsenal to flood the box but Jorginho could not get the defenders to venture forward!
The second half was more of a struggle and the first part was rather scrappy. Monaco missed a decent headed chance and Embolo then smashed a very presentable chance wide. Arteta then made some key changes at 63 minutes, bringing on Trossard, Jorginho (for Rice who was excellent in an understated way), Timber for the hugely promising MLS and eventually Jesùs was replaced by Havertz. To me the game changed from that moment. Havertz provided us with a skilful mobile platform upfront, dropping into midfield to great effect. Eventually he forced the vital second goal which we needed having soaked up quite a lot of pressure from the Monegasques .
Monaco over-elaborated in their own box putting the keeper under huge pressure. Majecki was closed down by Havertz at incredible speed and the ball fell to Saka who turned it home.
Arsenal 2 Monaco 0 – Saka 78
Saka returned the compliment with two minutes to go turning the ball in from the right for Havertz to finish at the near post (though UEFA have now declared it an O.G.).
Arsenal 3 Monaco 0 – Havertz 88
Saka is a remarkably efficient player. This was far from his peak performance but he still scored two goals and laid on an assist. He is an incredibly productive asset and a very precious part of this Arsenal team – as if we didn’t know this already!
So, what conclusions might we draw from the match and our progression through the group stage so far? This was a shadow defence although Saliba and Kiwior were solid and decisive apart from one piece of early hesitancy from the Pole. Partey was extremely erratic with his distribution – an odd trait in a full back who normally strives to look after the ball so well in midfield. I was impressed by Merino but Jesùs, Martinelli and even Ødegaard are showing signs of fatal under-confidence in front of goal.
We looked a much better team with Havertz upfront and his flexibility and intelligence underscore Mike McDonald’s contention that he can co-exist with a top striker (who he believes should be Gyokeres) in a more potent attacking line-up. It is worth noting that a slick finish by Sturm Graz was provided yesterday by Mika Biereth formerly of this parish who Edu sold for £4million in the summer. He looks a much more dangerous striker than Jesùs. We have a super and flexible attacking unit but we need more killer instinct. Our first half profligacy could have cost us dear. However, as it now stands we have an excellent chance of finishing in the top 8.