Arsenal are closing in on qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League after a 3-0 victory over Monaco at Emirates Stadium.
Barring a Aleksandr Golovin strike flashing inches wide of David Raya’s post, Arsenal were on top from the very first whistle.
They should have had the lead earlier than they did but Gabriel Jesus, who had scored just one goal in 32 matches coming to the game, was denied twice when clear through on goal by Radoslaw Majecki.
However, the breakthrough eventually came in the 34th minute when Jesus teed up Bukayo Saka after good work from Myles Lewis-Skelly, who was making his first Champions League start for the Gunners.
The hosts should have been further ahead before the break but skipper Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli both fired wide of the far post to keep Monaco in the game.
Just like at the start of the game, Monaco almost caught Arsenal cold at the beginning of the second half. Lamine Camara’s free kick picked out Thilo Kehrer, but the former West Ham defender planted his header wide of the upright.
The visitors should have been level midway through the second period when William Saliba uncharacteristically gifted possession to Takumi Minamino. The former Liverpool player picked out Breel Embolo in the penalty area and after turning Jakub Kiwior inside out, the Switzerland striker fired a low shot agonisingly wide.
Arsenal were hanging on but the game was eventually made safe after a gift from goalkeeper Majecki. Under pressure from Odegaard, he passed the ball straight to Saka, who made no mistake for his second goal of the night.
Substitute Kai Havertz scored late to put the gloss on what was not a straightforward night for the Gunners, but they rise to third in the Champions League standings. A win in their next fixture at home to Dinamo Zagreb on January 22 would more than likely secure qualification to the last 16.
