THANK GOD for Bukayo Saka.
Without him, Arsenal could still be playing now without finding the net – the Gunners racking up enough glaring misses in either half to fill an Argos Christmas catalogue.
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It came close to being three games on the spin in all competitions without a goal from open play before Saka stepped up in the 34th and 78th minute to decide this bizarre Champions League clash.
Monaco were incredibly average, defensively naïve and offensively mute, but were in the contest thanks to Mikel Arteta’s merry band of wasteful wobblers – who ironically only had one corner kick the entire game.
But in Saka, they have a man in form, a man for the occasion, a man whose numbers shine on the global stage, and even grabbed an assist from a late Thilo Kehrer own goal.
He has 21 goal involvements in 21 games so far this term – nine goals and 12 assists.
And since the start of last season, only Harry Kane (18) and Vinicius Jr (16) have been involved in more Champions League goals than Saka – eight goals, six assists.
This European elite league phase does not look too shabby either for the North Londoners, surely coasting their way to a top eight automatic last 16 finish with four wins from six.
Hale End academy grad Myles Lewis-Skelly, 18, was thrown in for his first Champions League start amid yet another defensive crisis Arteta has lost sleep over.
As was the case for the 1-1 draw at Fulham on Sunday, defenders Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori and Oleksandr Zinchenko were absent with Jurrien Timber dropping out for Lewis-Skelly.
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FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS
Thomas Partey began at right-back for the second game in a row – another player that missed training in the build-up to this one, thrown in out of necessity.
The spotlight was up the other end of the pitch, however, with Gabriel Jesus starting just his seventh game of the campaign in all competitions – his first in this competition since October 22.
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With just one goal to his name this term, it is easy to understand why.
Arteta spent pre-match defending the Brazilian’s stinking form and insisting he would not be leaving in January.
Jesus had the chance to back up his manager’s positivity with an early goal, but his current form appears to be harder to shake off than the common cold.
Put through down the left inside the opening four minutes, his finish softly into the arms of Monaco keeper Radoslaw Majecki was tame and awkward.
A brilliant one-two then allowed Mikel Merino to flash a delicious ball across goal.
Jesus fell to the floor attempting a lunge, but he was on his toes and never getting there.
Monaco were suffocating and needed to take a breath, doing some briefly as Aleksandr Golovin jinked is way into some space outside the box and worried David Raya with a whipped curler.
A minor relief the French giants.
Martin Odegaard responded with a curling effort of his own, trying to build some momentum and positivity with fluidity in short supply.
Declan Rice took matters into his own hands by hoofing it long from his own box and Jesus was in with acres of green grass to gallop into but he never looked comfortable under the bouncing ball.
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Arsenal ratings vs Monaco as Lewis-Skelly gets standing ovation but Merino is heavy and slow
BUKAYO SAKA scored twice as Arsenal saw off Monaco 3-0 in the Champions League.
Here is how SunSport’s Lloyd Canfield rated the players’ performances.
DAVID RAYA – 7/10
Rarely troubled throughout the game, but did what he had to do.
Commanding in the box, and pretty good distribution-wise, with only a few mistakes on that front.
THOMAS PARTEY – 6
A mixed bag from Partey tonight, with a few nice passes creating dangerous attacks, and a few going wildly astray.
Wasn’t caused an awful lot of trouble by Monaco’s left side.
WILLIAM SALIBA – 7
Solid at the back as per usual. Always gives you a seven out of ten.
JAKUB KIWIOR – 7
A capable deputy in Gabriel’s absence, sharp on the ball and dependable off of it. Equally as good as Saliba next to him.
MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY – 9
Playing as a left-back, Lewis-Skelly became the latest Hale End academy graduate to make his full Champions League debut vs Monaco.
A sensational bit of play to beat Monaco’s press allowed him to slot an inch-perfect ball into Jesus who set up Saka for Arsenal’s opener.
Given a standing ovation by the home support when he left the pitch after 64 minutes.
DECLAN RICE – 7
Broke up play nicely as he always does, often sliding in to shut down Monaco attacks.
Not as threatening as we have seen him be previously going forward, but that wasn’t his job this evening with Merino alongside him.
MIKEL MERINO – 4
I wasn’t moved.
Arsenal fans might be left slightly disappointed by the Odegaard – Merino – Rice midfield they were excited about. Looked heavy and slow, and got booked.
MARTIN ODEGAARD – 5
Not his usual elegant self in midfield for Arsenal.
Unfortunately let down by his end product tonight, as he missed two huge chances to double their lead either side of half-time.
GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 4
A threat down the left side in the first half, he should’ve had an assist were it not for Arsenal’s number nine.
While he showed some bright sparks, his end product in general was not good enough.
BUKAYO SAKA – 8
In the right place at the right time as he so often is to open the scoring after a great ball across the box by Jesus.
Reacted quickly to a goalkeeper mistake and finished into the far corner for what was his seventh home Champions League goal in seven home Champions League games – clinical.
GABRIEL JESUS – 5
Could’ve had a first-half brace, but for his lack of composure, as he missed TWO huge 1v1 chances early on in the tie.
What he lacked in finishing however, he made up for with a quality assist to set up Saka for the opening goal.
SUBS:
LEANDRO TROSSARD (GABRIEL MARTINELLI, 64) – 5
Much the same story as the man whom he replaced.
JORGINHO (DECLAN RICE, 64) – 6
A calming presence in the Arsenal midfield, helped to settle the ball when he got on it.
JURRIEN TIMBER (MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY, 64) – 6
Replaced the best player on the pitch and Arsenal’s level didn’t drop much.
KAI HAVERTZ (GABRIEL JESUS, 73) – 8
Put the goalkeeper under plenty of pressure to force the mistake for Saka’s second.
Got the faintest of nicks for the Gunners’ third.
ETHAN NWANERI (MARTIN ODEGAARD, 79) – 5
Another good few minutes in the tank for the Arsenal starlet with a very bright future.
Some good touches to get the home fans excited.
The touch was clumsy and the volleyed finish was inviting of a save from the right leg of Majecki.
How about a do-over? Jesus got that chance seconds later but the same result, driving into the box with his shot deflected into the body of the busy Pole between the sticks.
Arteta kicked the air in frustration, but he was soon jumping for joy.
Lewis-Skelly brilliantly wriggled out of trouble and fed Jesus down the left.
This time his touch was good, his delivery across goal to the far post for Saka to nudge in even better.
A goal that should have put a pin in the anxiety balloon hanging over the Emirates.
Instead, it gained in size thanks to the biggest miss of the lot.
Odegaard pressed like a maniac, nicked the ball off a sleeping Soungoutou Magassa, nut-megged Kehrer and was in for a certain goal.
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In this sort of funk, nothing is certain.
The Norwegian took several looks and shanked wide. Moments later, Odegaard fed Martinelli only for the winger to do the same.
Whatever had infected Arsenal’s shooting boots, it was spreading.
The half-time whistle blew to stunned silence. Odegaard shook his head and flapped his arms.
The nerves were jangling after the break.
Ex-Hammeer Kehrer headed wide from a free-kick and Breel Embolo should have found the bottom corner from a William Saliba error in the 65th minute.
Odegaard missed another soon after, firing straight at Majecki from a cross by sub Leandro Trossard.
Arsenal needed the gift of all gifts, and they got it with 12 minutes remaining.
Majecki tossed away all his good work by taking too long in his own six-yard box under pressure to another sub Kai Havertz, as Saka pounced and showed the rest of his pals how it is done.
Ten minutes later, with the pressure lifted, even Monaco were teaching the hosts scoring lessons, Kehrer fumbling into his own net from a cross by – who else – Saka.
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