Bukayo Saka scored a brace as Arsenal comfortably beat Monaco 3-0 in the Champions League.
Saka scored in both halves, and substitute Kai Havertz added the third goal, as Mikel Arteta's side emerged victorious from a match they largely controlled at the Emirates Stadium.
The result lifted Arsenal to third place in the Champions League table, while Monaco dropped to sixteenth place.
Good night at N5 💪 pic.twitter.com/DomVfQTa0t
– Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 11, 2024
Both teams were looking to build on the impressive start to their European campaigns.
Level on points in the table, little separated the two sides before kick-off. Their intentions were similarly identical: to break into the top eight to ensure automatic qualification to the round of 16.
But the home team seems to be the most prepared for this task. Gabriel Jesus made an early attempt on goal, but his shot only found the hands of Radoslav Majicki in Monaco's goal.
Mikel Merino then fired the ball across the six-yard box as Arsenal settled into their rhythm.
Magici again made a good save from Jesus' shot in the 25th minute before making another superb save to deny the Brazilian moments later.
Teenage full-back Myles Lewis Skelly was making his first Champions League start for Arsenal. The 18-year-old, who made little mistake all evening, played a key role in opening the scoring.
After turning away from an opponent, his pass found Jesus, who sent a low cross that was deflected off the back post by Saka.
A young Monaco side were, at first glance, easy on the eye, but the host's goal was no surprise as Arteta's side began to show their quality.
Such control should have led to the second goal when Martin Odegaard burst in with a one-on-one shot. But the Arsenal captain sent his shot wide when he should have done much better.
Bukayo Saka with an easy finish after a wonderful pass from Gabriel Jesus 😮💨
Some amazing play from Miles Lewis Skelly in his first Champions League match 👏
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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 11, 2024
After the break, the visitors brought on former Liverpool striker Takumi Minamino. Change seems to breathe new life into Monaco.
Minamino found David Raya's gloves first with a weak effort before the Japan international crossed to Brielle Embolo but the Swiss striker blocked his powerful shot wide.
Meanwhile, Arsenal struggled to regain their momentum in the first half. Leandro Trossard sent a shot over the bar before Merino headed wide.
But just when it looked like the Gunners might be in for a cagey final 15 minutes, they got a second goal when a disastrous error from Magice Saka gifted him his second goal of the night.
Arsenal rediscovered their magic, while a two-goal deficit appeared to have knocked the visitors down.
With three minutes remaining in the 90th minute, it was the third minute when substitute Havertz shot Saka's ball into the roof of the goal.
Arsenal enter a busy domestic holiday period looking very healthy on the continent.
