THANK HEAVENS for Bukayo Saka.
Without him, Arsenal might still be searching for a goal – the Gunners had enough missed chances in both halves to fill an Argos Christmas catalog.
It nearly became three consecutive games without a goal from open play until Saka scored in the 34th and 78th minutes, sealing this odd Champions League match.
Monaco were quite mediocre, defensively weak and ineffective offensively, yet stayed in the game due to Arteta’s team of wasteful players – who ironically only had one corner in the entire match.
But with Saka, they have a player in form, rising to the occasion, whose stats shine globally, even contributing to a late own goal by Thilo Kehrer.
He has 21 goal contributions in 21 games this season – nine goals and 12 assists.
Since last season began, only Harry Kane (18) and Vinicius Jr (16) have more Champions League goal contributions than Saka – eight goals and six assists.
This European league phase looks promising for the North Londoners, cruising towards a top-eight finish with four wins out of six.
Hale End academy graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly, 18, made his first Champions League start amid another defensive crisis that has troubled Arteta.
As in the 1-1 draw against Fulham on Sunday, defenders Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori, and Oleksandr Zinchenko were missing, with Jurrien Timber replaced by Lewis-Skelly.
Thomas Partey started at right-back for the second consecutive match – another player who missed training leading up to this game, pressed into action out of necessity.
Meanwhile, the focus was on the other end of the pitch, with Gabriel Jesus making just his seventh appearance across competitions this season – his first in this tournament since October 22.
After countless chances from the home side, Bukayo Saka opened the scoring inside 34 minutes
The England star then doubled Arsenal’s lead in the 78th minute
Bukayo Saka scored a double as Arsenal eased past Monaco in the Champions League
Saka then set up Kai Havertz in the dying embers to make it a 3-0, in what was otherwise an own-goal but the German had it on target
Gabriel Jesus missed a couple of sitters in the first half
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.
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.
Myles Lewis-Skelly, 18, got a standing ovation at full-time
Martin Odegaard missed the biggest chance of the night
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.
