Football
Bukayo Saka Brace Leads Arsenal To Monaco Win As Gunners Maintain 100% Home Record In The Champions League
Olly Taliku has worked with highly respected sports and gambling websites where he has produced hundreds of articles, as well as being published with Burton Albion and Chesterfield FC. At Burton Olly worked closely alongside the women's team, producing mainly matchday content including reports and interviews, while at Chesterfield he worked in a similar role but with the academy side, as well as some first team content. He also has experience as an accredited Premier League and EFL writer for Prost International where he worked during the 2021/22 season to produce matchday content as an on location reporter. Olly specialises in football as well as long form SEO content plus news, tips and betting but also produces content on basketball, baseball and American football.
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Watch full Arsenal vs Monaco highlights as the Gunners made it three wins from three Champions League home games this season, thanks to a Bukayo Saka brace.
Saka Brace Sinks Monaco
Arsenal put Monaco under threat early on at the Emirates and they crafted a huge chance for Gabriel Jesus just before the half hour mark, but the Brazilian’s troubles in front of goal continued as he failed to convert a one on one after breaking in behind.
Jesus had a chance to redeem himself just two minutes later as he found himself baring down on goal again but another brilliant save from Radosław Majecki prevented the hosts from taking the lead.
Arsenal finally got the breakthrough that their pressure deserved just after the 30 minute mark, as Bukayo Saka popped up at the back post to break the deadlock.
A beautiful team goal started with Myles Lewis-Skelly who played an incisive out from the back to Jesus, who was in behind the Monaco defence in the blink of an eye. Jesus then turned provider after missing two big chances, as he whipped in a low cross to the back post where Saka waited to tap in his third Champions League goal of the season.
The Gunners had more chances to double their advantage in the first half, with Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli both missing guilt edged chances that could come back to haunt Arsenal.
The hosts found it hard to create anything in the opening 15 minutes of the second half and it was Monaco who came out of the blocks quickest largely thanks to substitute Takumi Minamino’s energy.
Odegaard had another good opportunity just after the hour mark, but again the Arsenal captain wasn’t able to convert as his shot went straight down the throat of Majecki in goal.
The Gunners secured all three points in the 77th minute, as Saka scored his second on the night. Arsenal substitute Kai Havertz pressured Majecki who had been good all night, but the keeper ed the ball straight to Arsenal’s number 7 who had an open goal from five yards out.
Arsenal grabbed a deserved third in the 88th minute, with Havertz again making an impact, as this time he deflected a Saka cross to give the Gunners a cushion to end the game.
WATCH: Arsenal 3-0 Monaco Champions League Highlights
A win for Arsenal sends the North London side up to third in the Champions League table heading into Christmas, with a the Gunners in a commanding position as the knockouts approach.
Monaco on the other hand remain mid-table despite the loss and with two games to go in the knockouts the French side look in a good spot to make the playoffs.