The hosts had been struggling with their finishing in the first half, but Bukayo Saka was the man to break the deadlock in the 35th minute. The goal came from a slick move, as Leandro Trossard found Gabriel Jesus on the left flank, and the Brazilian whipped in a perfect low cross for Saka to slot home with precision. While Arsenal were often wasteful, failing to capitalize on several chances in the opening 45 minutes, the second half saw them turn up the intensity and make their dominance count.
The second goal arrived in the 78th minute, following a calamitous mix-up between Monaco's Salisu and goalkeeper Kamil Majecki. Under pressure from Kai Havertz, Majecki’s failed clearance allowed Saka to pounce, tapping in the loose ball to double Arsenal's lead. The Gunners' quality was evident as they exploited Monaco’s defensive mistakes to put the game beyond their opponents.
Just ten minutes later, Saka turned provider, setting up Havertz for the third goal. The German international, whose touch appeared to deflect off Monaco's Thilo Kehrer, was awarded the goal after a scrappy but effective finish past Majecki. With a 3-0 scoreline, Arsenal cruised to a comfortable win, deservedly surpassing their 1.89 xG.
This victory marked a significant achievement for Mikel Arteta's side, as they continued their fine form in the Champions League. Arsenal have now won seven of their last eight home matches in the competition (D1), keeping a clean sheet in every single victory. This impressive streak, with seven clean sheets, is the most by any team on home soil over the past two seasons.
Monaco, who were unbeaten in their first four matches of the campaign, have now lost their last two games in Europe. Their struggles away from home continue, as they have won just one of their last 10 Champions League away fixtures (D4 L5). Their lackluster performance in North London left them with little to show, often looking like mere bystanders to Arsenal’s attacking onslaught.
For Arsenal, the win caps off an excellent round of Champions League fixtures, which leaves them in third place, comfortably ahead of their rivals. The Gunners are now unbeaten in their last 14 home games across all competitions (W12 D2), their best run since a 18-match unbeaten streak under Arsène Wenger in 2017.
As Arsenal head into a festive break, the result is a reminder of their potential and a warning to their Champions League competitors. They will look to continue this excellent run when the competition resumes in the new year, with both their attacking and defensive units firing on all cylinders.
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