Arsenal triumph over Monaco as Saka stars
Bukayo Saka scored twice as Arsenal beat Monaco to strengthen their position as one of the sides likely to progress to the knockout stages of the Champions League.
The Gunners were well on top in the first half, but missed a number of chances to make the outcome even more comfortable.
Arsenal took the lead in the 34th minute after Myles Lewis–Skelly played in Gabriel Jesus and the Brazilian crossed for Saka to tap in.
Substitute Kai Havertz then forced a mistake from keeper Radoslaw Majecki in the 74th minute and Saka steered in from close range.
The England forward then set up the third with two minutes left as Havertz turned in his cross.
Arsenal should have added more to their tally, though, before their late flurry.
Gabriel Jesus was denied twice by Majecki when through on goal.
Captain Martin Odegaard was next to go close when he intercepted a loose pass from Monaco midfielder Soungoutou Magassa but shot wide from inside the area, while Gabriel Martinelli curled wide of the post when well placed too.
The Gunners were almost punished immediately after the restart for their wayward finishing when Thilo Kehrer headed wide from inside the box from a Monaco free-kick.
Former Liverpool midfielder Takumi Minamino and striker Breel Embolo also went close for the visitors.
However, the missed chances did not matter in the end as the late goals from Saka and Havertz gave Mikel Arteta's side the success.
Arsenal moved up to third in the table on 13 points and are in a strong position going into their final two group stage games.
They host Dinamo Zagreb next on 22 January before visiting Girona a week later.
Injuries no problem for dependable Gunners defence
The Gunners looked to have been hit by another injury crisis when Thomas Partey, Jurrien Timber, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Riccardo Calafiori missed the open part of the training session before the match.
However, Partey was able to start and defender Timber named on the bench in a changed line-up for Arteta.
Academy graduate Lewis-Skelly, 18, started at left-back and Partey on the right-hand side as Arsenal were without other defensive options in Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Zinchenko, Calafiori and Brazilian centre-back Gabriel.
Jesus was handed a frontline role, but the Brazilian's disjointed performance highlighted his lack of confidence in front of goal.
He has scored just one goal in his last 32 Arsenal games in all competitions and wasted two glorious chances to improve that ratio in the opening period.
The Gunners have only conceded two goals in their six Champions League games and that defensive resoluteness will give Arteta hope they can go deep into the competition this season.
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