A dominant Arsenal side condemned AS Monaco to back-to-back defeats in the Champions League (3-0) as Adi Hütter’s side missed te chance to secure their qualification in London on Wednesday.

Hütter assured that his youthful side “wouldn’t hide” against Arsenal, favourites on paper, stating a determination to impose their style of football. Les Monégasques failed to do that in the first 45 minutes. Monaco were left chasing shadows as the Gunners dominated, creating a string of high-quality chances. 

Arsenal lay seige on Majecki’s goal

“We were lucky in the first half that Arsenal didn’t score more,” reflected the Monaco manager post-match. In the end, the visitors headed into the break just one goal down, quite miraculously. Gabriel Jesus had three great chances, two of which were one-on-ones, expertly foiled by Radoslaw Majecki, who did his best to keep Monaco in this tie. 

Martin Odegaard also slid the ball wide when one-on-one whilst Gabriel Martinelli also should have done better with just Majecki to beat. However, Arsenal did head in with an advantage thanks to Bukayo Saka, who latched onto Jesus’ ball to the back post. 

Majecki had a busy first half, unlike David Raya, who remained untested at the other end. A goal down, Hütter changed tack at half-time. Off came Soungoutou Magassa, on came Takumi Minamino as Monaco reverted to their more familiar 4-2-3-1 formation. 

It had an effect as Monaco grew into the game. Thilo Kehrer went close with a header, Breel Embolo fired just wide on the swivel and Minamino also had an effort on goal.

Monaco pay for ‘impossible’ mistakes

But the pressure, against such high-level opposition, could not be sustained. Arsenal, once again in a title battle in the Premier League, managed the game excellently and when the chance to kill the game came their way late on, they took it.

It was an individual error, a misunderstanding between Majecki and Mohammed Salisu that allowed Arsenal to pounce inside the Monégasque penalty box and Saka applied the finishing touch, registering his second on the night.

It was his shot, which took a guided flick of Kai Havertz that completed the scoring and provided perhaps a fairer reflection of Arsenal’s domination on the night.

Monaco have lost this season but all four of their previous defeats came by just one goal. The defeat at the Emirates was the first time that the Principality club were truly outplayed this season and that, coupled with the individual mistakes, made it a night to forget for Monaco.

“We gave them lots of gifts. At this level, it is impossible and not acceptable to make the mistkaes that we made,” lamented the Monaco manager post-match.

Monaco’s top 8 hopes dimmen

However, it wasn’t all negative. “I also saw positive things against a fantastic team with a maginificent style of play,” said Hütter. Arsenal showed Monaco the level that they are looking to attain, especially if they want to go deep in the Champions League.

Despite defeat, their second on the bounce, Les Monégasques are still almost certain to qualify for the play-off phase, although hopes of a top eight finish have now significantly dimmed.

Attention will now return to Ligue 1 with a match against Reims coming up on Saturday. For that game, Monaco will still be without Denis Zakaria and Folarin Balogun, the latter has been forced to undergo surgery on his shoulder issue. However, Wilfried Singo and Christian Mawissa will both return. All four were certainly missed by Monaco against Arsenal.

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Photo source: AS Monaco