Arsenal 3-0 Monaco LIVE RESULT: Bukayo Saka on the double as Gunners sail into third in Champions League table
ARSENAL defeated Monaco 3-0 in a one-sided clash as the Gunners leapt up to third in the Champions League table.
Bukayo Saka fired the Gunners ahead after a stunning move which was kicked off by 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly, who started at left-back.
Saka then doubled Arsenal's lead with 15 minutes to play, capitalising on a horror Monaco defensive error in their own box.
Kai Havertz appeared to knock home the Gunners' third after connecting with Saka's shot to put the game out of the French side's reach - but it was later ruled as a Thilo Kehrer own goal with the defender having the final touch.
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Follow ALL the reaction from the Emirates with our live blog below...
Arsenal 0-0 Monaco
16. Thomas Partey makes a mess of a throw-in to literally hand possession to Monaco.
"Is that a set-piece that went wrong?" ponders commentator Darren Fletcher.
Arsenal 0-0 Monaco
14. Monaco double up on Saka as he takes up possession on the right flank, and the French club will hope that two of their players are equal to one Antonee Robinson.
It does the job here with Saka forced out of play for an away throw.
Arsenal 0-0 Monaco
12. The home fans, sensing this might not be the straightforward encounter they were expecting, turn up the volume.
How will the Arsenal players respond?
Arsenal 0-0 Monaco
10. Ten minutes on the clock and the visitors have settled well, edging the possession to control 52% of the ball.
However, the Gunners still look sharp and slick on the move, right up until they are required to supply a finishing touch.
Arsenal 0-0 Monaco
8. The first attempt of the game from Monaco is not too far away from finding the bottom corner.
Kiwior initially looks as though he's mopped up a dangerous attack inside his own area, but the Polish defender is caught napping.
It presents the opportunity for Golovin to dig a shot out from 20 yards on his right foot that thuds into the advertising hoardings behind the goal.
Arsenal 0-0 Monaco
6. More pressure from the hosts, who whistle the ball across the Monaco six-yard box.
Sliding in, Merino is just unable to add the finishing touch from close range.
Arsenal 0-0 Monaco
4. The first attempt of the game comes courtesy of Gabriel Jesus, who does extremely well to pinch possession from a dozing Soungoutou Magassa on the edge of his own penalty area.
The shot isn't as impressive, mind you, sidefooted tamely at Radoslaw Majecki.
Jesus isn't going to end his scoring drought with finishing like that.
Arsenal 0-0 Monaco
3. Monaco are looking sharp in these opening seconds, pouncing on any indecision in the Arsenal ranks as the home side try to find some early rhythm.
The French visitors are wearing a very dark green, by the way, while the Gunners are in their usual red and white.
Kick-off - Arsenal v Monaco
1. Peeeeeep! Italian referee Davide Massa blows his whistle, and Arsenal get the game underway with a once-traditional two-man kick-off.
Mind you, Martin Odegaard gives possession away immediately so expect the Gunners to retreat to the now-favoured one-man kick-off next week.
Here come the two teams!
There is barely anything to separate the two sets of players as they squeeze out of the tunnel at the Emirates Stadium, led by captain Martin Odegaard and Thilo Kehrer.
And there's nothing to separate the clubs in this season's Champions League either, both locked together on 10 points after five games in the competition.
A win tonight would be huge in elevating the victor into the top eight section of the new-look League Phase.
The Gunners are rightly considered favourites, but their travelling Ligue Un opponents have quite the history when it comes to upsetting Premier League counterparts.
Kick-off in London comes next.
Hard Myles ahead for youngster
All eyes this evening will be on young Myles Lewis-Skelly, making the first Champions League start of his career.
The 18-year-old slots in at left-back in place of Jurrien Timber, who is on the bench after a long afternoon at Craven Cottage on Sunday.
And Lewis-Skelly may well have his hands full on the flank as he comes up against two direct wingers in Monaco's exciting pair of Eliesse Ben Seghir and Maghnes Akliouche.
Akliouche has been hyped up by former Arsenal and Monaco legend Thierry Henry, while Ben Seghir netted his first Champions League goal last time out against Benfica.
Sensational Saka leads Arsenal charge
When it comes to a choice between scoring goals or creating goals, it really doesn't matter to Bukayo Saka - he'll just do both.
The England ace has both netted and assisted in four different Champions League games for the Gunners since the start of last season.
Indeed, he’s been involved in eight goals in his six home games in the competition during that period (five goals and three assists).
Who would bet against the same again from Mikel Arteta's star boy this evening?
Gunners still a goal threat
Arsenal can only score from set-pieces? Don't you believe it - especially when it comes to European football.
In fact, the last visiting side to keep a clean sheet at the Emirates against the Gunners in the Champions League was Barcelona all the way back in February 2016.
Since then, the Londoners have netted in 11 Champions League home games in succession, averaging 2.6 goals per match and 29 in total.
Going the extra Myles
Myles Lewis-Skelly is in he building as he makes his first Champions League start for the Gunners tonight.
The highly-rated 18-year-old, who is seen long-term as a defensive midfielder, fills in at left-back against Monaco.
Credit: Getty Routine check
Monaco boss Adi Hutter has revealed that his side have been doing their homework on how to deal with Arsenal's set-piece routines.
Hutter said: “Our preparation for this match was necessarily more advanced than for a classic Ligue 1 match, that’s for sure, because Arsenal are a top team!,” he told reporters.
“They are very strong on set pieces, it’s a real weapon for them, that’s obvious. They train a lot for that, but we have an idea of how we should defend in these phases.
“And then we can also be a threat to them in this area, because that’s also something that’s an area of strength for us."
Monaco starting XI
Majecki; Vanderson, Kehrer, Salisu, Henrique; Magassa, Camara; Akilouche, Golovin, Seghir; Embolo
Champions League latest
It's half-time in the early kick-offs and Atletico Madrid lead Slovan Bratislava 2-1 with ex-Man City star Julian Alvarez getting on the score sheet once again.
While Lille are 2-1 at home to Sturm Graz.
Arsenal subs
Neto, Setford, Timber, Tierney, Robinson, Heaven, Monlouis, Jorginho, Nwaneri, Trossard, Sterling, Havertz.
Arsenal starting XI
Raya; Partey, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Rice, Merino, Odegaard; Saka, Martinelli, Jesus
Last time out
Monaco’s last trip to the Emirates over a decade ago was a happy one as they stunned the Gunners by beating them 3-1.
And ex-rival Dimitar Berbatov was on the scoresheet.
There's a blast from the past
Credit: Graham Hughes - The Times Arteta expects a tough test
The Arsenal manager knows that his side have to be on their A game if they are to get a result tonight.
Arteta said:"They're a really good side, you see the run they’ve been on in the Champions League and in the league, especially against top opposition, so a real threat,” he told reporters.
“A team that is superbly well organised, really intense, really good in transition moments as well with a lot of quality, so it’s going to be a very good test for us tomorrow.
"We have a really good link as well with Arsene, Thierry as well. There’s a big history there. It’s a very special club, a special place, so we welcome them here and will hopefully be better than them to try to win the game."
Go with the Flo
Arsenal will be relieved that their former Hale End star Folarin Balogun is not available for this clash.
The Gunners shipped out Balogun to Reims on loan before he made the permanent switch to Monaco.
But he is not available for his homecoming trip due to a shoulder injury.
He’ll be gutted.
Credit: Alamy Arsenal team news
The Gunners could be without SEVEN key stars tonight as they were not pictured in training ahead of this huge match.
- Gabriel Magalhaes
- Jurrien Timber
- Ben White
- Oleksandr Zinchenko
- Takehiro Tomiyasu
- Thomas Partey
- Riccardo Calafiori
Welcome to SunSport’s live coverage of Arsenal vs Monaco
Arsenal will be determined to quickly get back to winning ways TONIGHT in their crunch Champions League clash - but opponents Monaco have other ideas.
The Gunners seemed as if they were putting quite the run together having won three matches on the spin going into last weekend’s match against Fulham.
However, the Cottagers frustrated Mikel Arteta’s men as they were forced to share the spoils - failing to capitalise on league leaders Liverpool’s postponed match.
But it has been happier times in Europe particularly with Arsenal’s most recent outing to Lisbon where they THUMPED Sporting 5-1.
And a win at the Emirates tonight would see the Gunners all but guarantee a spot in the next stages of this newly formatted Champions League.
Coming up we will the latest team news which could be a problem for Arsenal as several players missed training, any breaking stories and of course the line-ups all before kick-off at 8pm GMT.
