Champions League: High-flying Arsenal aiming for supremacy

Bukayo Saka's brilliant double propelled Arsenal closer to securing a spot in the Champions League last 16 with a commanding 3-0 victory over Monaco on Wednesday. The England forward struck late in both halves, showcasing his clinical finishing, while Kai Havertz added a late goal to seal an emphatic win at the Emirates Stadium. The result elevated Mikel Arteta's team to third place in the revamped league phase of the competition. With four wins from six European matches this season, Arsenal has firmly positioned itself in control of its destiny. Two games remain, but the Gunners are well-placed to achieve a top-eight finish, which guarantees automatic qualification for the last 16.

Under the new format, clubs finishing ninth to 24th in the 36-team first phase must navigate a play-off to secure progression. However, Arsenal’s strong form and dominant display against Monaco reflect their determination to avoid that route and secure a direct path to the knockout stages. Arsenal’s path to the Champions League last 16 looks promising, with fixtures against Dinamo Zagreb and Girona scheduled for January. The north London club will be confident of avoiding the play-off route, needing only solid performances to maintain their top-eight standing in the group stage.

Their 3-0 victory over Monaco provided a much-needed boost following a frustrating 1-1 Premier League draw against Fulham last weekend. It marked Arsenal's fifth win in their last six games across all competitions, underscoring their resilience despite recent setbacks. However, the Gunners continue to grapple with a defensive injury crisis. Key players Gabriel Magalhaes, Ben White, Riccardo Calafiori, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Takehiro Tomiyasu were all unavailable for the match. This forced manager Mikel Arteta to make tactical adjustments, including deploying Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey at right-back. Partey, who missed training earlier in the week, stepped up to fill the void in an unorthodox role, showcasing the team’s ability to adapt under challenging circumstances.

Myles Lewis-Skelly, just 18 years old, made his second Arsenal start at left-back, following his League Cup debut against Bolton. As the youngest player to start a Champions League match for Arsenal since Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in 2011, Lewis-Skelly impressed with a composed performance under pressure. Gabriel Jesus, however, continued to struggle in front of goal, extending his goal drought to 32 games. In Arsenal's first major chance, Jesus failed to capitalize on Gabriel Martinelli's pass, producing a tame shot straight at Monaco keeper Radoslaw Majecki. Additional opportunities went begging, including a mistimed run for Mikel Merino's cross and a one-on-one chance where Majecki denied him with a sharp save.

Monaco's Aleksandr Golovin tested Arsenal with a long-range effort that whizzed past the post, but it was Arsenal who struck first. Lewis-Skelly’s incisive pass found Jesus, who delivered a low cross for Bukayo Saka to tap in for his fourth goal in six games. Despite Martin Odegaard and Arsenal squandering chances to extend the lead, they survived Monaco's second-half resurgence, which included efforts from Takumi Minamino and Breel Embolo. Arsenal sealed the win when Saka capitalized on Majecki’s hesitation for his second goal, and Kai Havertz added a third late on, turning in Saka's rebounded shot to cap the 3-0 victory.