Bukayo Saka on trajectory to become one of Arsenal’s true greats

There are many parts to the new Arsenal but none as valuable as their most reliable goalscorer, and most talented attacker, Bukayo Saka, who once again made the difficult parts look much easier than they can for so many of his peers.

Another Champions League night in north London and another two goals for the golden boy, who now has nine to go with 12 assists across 21 appearances this season. That last assist depends on his team-mate Kai Havertz being credited with the third goal, which took a touch off the Monaco captain Thilo Kehrer, once of West Ham, before it went in. Although for Saka one would assume there will be many more of these kinds of games.

The great homegrown star of Arsenal scores all sorts of goals, and the two on this night were by no means his most spectacular. But they come in all flavours, and it is the volume of goals expected now of the elite players, a group to whom Saka now belongs, which is critical. This will be a long career for Saka and the older he gets, the greater the expectations will be – although thus far he has skipped up the levels every time.

Europe’s top club competition? Saka now has eight goals in the 14 games he has played in the Champions League since the start of last season. His second Champions League season has been impressive and he is on the kind of career progression that puts him on a par with some of the competition’s best players at the same age. It is easy to forget that he is just 23 and three months. This is already his sixth season as a Premier League regular.

‘He has the right habits to play every three days at the highest level’

“It has been an evolution,” said Mikel Arteta, reflecting on the Saka era that has, fortunately for the Arsenal manager, coincided with his own time at the club. “He [Bukayo] wasn’t able to do that at 17, 18, 19 years old. He has developed the right way physically and mentally. Now he has the right habits to play every three days and to be at the highest level.”

The absolute top end of the game is relentless for the likes of Saka – but it will make him very rich, very famous and possibly one of the greats. That he is a homegrown star is such an important part of it all for Arsenal. He was joined by two more academy graduates, the 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly, who made his first Champions League start, and Ethan Nwaneri, 17, a late substitute.

For Lewis-Skelly, a left-back, this was a big moment – he made the key pre-assist pass to Gabriel Jesus to create the first goal. It will help Arsenal that these young players are coming into a stable side. They are unbeaten at home in 14 games in all competitions. “A really proud moment,” said Arteta of Lewis-Skelly. “It’s just a joy to watch him. It’s a privilege to give a chance to somebody to change his career. It is great that we can trust him.”

Arsenal go into Christmas with 13 points from six Champions League games which, in the old format, would have been enough to win the group and progress to the old knockout round of 16. Indeed, it was the total that Arsenal finished with last season in their group. Under the new format there are still two more games to come next month, with Arsenal third in the 36-team table on goal difference.

They are one of six teams on 13 points, which means that the order of the automatic qualifying spots for the last 16 will likely change again – yet this is undoubtedly an Arsenal side comfortable in Europe. Last season it ended with the 1-0 defeat by Bayern in Munich in April. This time they will be a difficult side to eliminate – especially with that home record.

Against Monaco, the club who turbocharged Arsene Wenger’s coaching career, and also the same team who launched Thierry Henry, Arsenal never looked like they might be discomfited. Monaco gave up three big first-half chances and their Polish goalkeeper Radoslaw Majecki, in particular, did well. Still, they played a dangerous game and eventually handed Arsenal the second and third goals. Monaco’s Austrian manager Adi Hutter has some brave ideas about playing the game that Arsenal eventually picked apart.

Gabriel Jesus was afforded the first two Arsenal chances – they were the kind of classic through-on-goal, goalkeeper-striker face-offs of another era. Both were accompanied by a centre-half breathing down his neck and a sense of expectation in the stadium.

The 27-year-old is no longer Arteta’s idea of a first-choice starter in the big games and the long-standing sense lingers that this is not a top-tier dispatcher of chances. Neither of Jesus’s opportunities were easy. The first was a traditional big hit over the top from Jakub Kiwior. The ball slowed as it bounced, but Jesus nudged it on and forced a good save from Majecki. Second time around it was Gabriel Martinelli’s through-ball and Jesus was holding off Kehrer as he struck a shot that was also saved.

It would eventually be Jesus’s cross to the back post that created the chance that Saka converted. Martin Odegaard would miss when he seized on a poor touch by Soungoutou Magassa and slipped the ball past Kehrer. For all the Arsenal captain’s many qualities he never felt like a likely goalscorer in that one-on-one situation.

Hutter brought on the former Liverpool winger Takumi Minamino at half-time, in place of Magassa, and his side were better. A mistake from the former Southampton defender Mohammed Salisu presented Saka with the ball for his second. The third for Havertz came late.

Arsenal face six games in 21 days over Christmas, including the Carabao Cup tie with Crystal Palace. The challenge for them and their star name is to keep rolling out the big performances.

10:37 PM GMT

Fortress Emirates

10:29 PM GMT

Arteta reacts

10:23 PM GMT

Lewis-Skelly reacts

On his involvement in the first goal:

On his first Champions League start:

On using Saka as an inspiration:

10:16 PM GMT

Arsenal’s main man delivered again

10:10 PM GMT

Saka praises Lewis-Skelly

09:54 PM GMT

FULL TIME: Arsenal 3 Monaco 0

All over at the Emirates. They move onto 13 points and firmly put themselves in position to qualify in the top eight.

Scoreline slightly flatters Arsenal but all that matters is the win.

09:51 PM GMT

90+2mins: Arsenal 3 Monaco 0

Three goals. None from corners. Critics of Arsenal’s struggles in open play won’t have much to say tonight.

09:49 PM GMT

90mins: Arsenal 3 Monaco 0

Three minutes added on.

09:48 PM GMT

88mins: Arsenal 3 Monaco 0 GOAL

Definitely game over now. Saka fires a shot towards goal and Havertz deflects the ball in. Replays suggest it might be an own goal by Kehrer, who was very close to Havertz.

VAR check for offside but the goal stands.

09:43 PM GMT

83mins: Arsenal 2 Monaco 0

Saka at the Emirates in the Champions League:

7 games
10 goal contributions

09:41 PM GMT

‘A matter of time before Arsenal converted one of their chances’

Arsenal have been really sloppy in the final third in this second half but it always felt like a matter of time before they converted one of their chances. Painfully for Monaco, this one was created by their own inadequacy rather than any attacking genius from Arsenal. That’s game over, I’d say.

Bukayo Saka’s two goals tonight have taken him to nine goals and 11 assists in all competitions this season. That’s 20 goal involvements in 21 appearances.

09:40 PM GMT

81mins: Arsenal 2 Monaco 0

Monaco sub:

OFF Camara, Vanderson, Embolo
ON Matazo, Teze, Ilenikhena

09:38 PM GMT

79mins: Arsenal 2 Monaco 0

Arsenal sub:

OFF Odegaard
ON Nwaneri

09:38 PM GMT

78mins: Arsenal 2 Monaco 0 GOAL

That should ease all the tension. Great pressing by Havertz to force an error by Majecki, who gives it away to Saka and the winger fires in from close range.

Game over?

09:34 PM GMT

74mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0

Nice feet by Havertz to release Trossard and Arsenal have a two-on-one with Odegaard. Trossard tries to find him but the pass is blocked. He retains the ball and takes a shot from distance but the ball is high and over the bar.

09:32 PM GMT

72mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0

Arsenal sub:

OFF Jesus
ON Havertz

Jesus will think he should be leaving the pitch with at least one goal tonight.

09:28 PM GMT

69mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0

Havertz is getting ready to come on for Arsenal.

09:26 PM GMT

‘You can see why there is so much excitement about Lewis-Skelly’

What an excellent hour of football it has been from Lewis-Skelly, only 18 years old. You can see why there is so much excitement about him at Arsenal. It’s not just Ethan Nwaneri... they have two top talents coming through.

09:25 PM GMT

65mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0

Big chance for Monaco. Saliba gives the ball away in his half. Minamino picks it up and drives forward. He plays a pass to Embolo, who lets the ball roll across and shoots but his effort is wide.

09:23 PM GMT

64mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0

Arsenal subs:

OFF Jorginho, Timber and Trossard
ON Martinelli, Rice and Lewis-Skelly

09:22 PM GMT

63mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0

Henrique pulls the ball back on the byline and finds the unmarked Minamino but his tame shot is saved.

Yellow card for Vanderson after pulling back Martinelli.

09:21 PM GMT

62mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0

Triple sub for Arsenal is imminent. Jorginho, Timber and Trossard coming on.

09:19 PM GMT

59mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0

Arsenal get their first corner of the match. Rice comes over to take it. The Arsenal fans are getting excited. No Gabriel remember.

Monaco have kept three players up. Rice’s cross is punched clear. Merino picks up a yellow for a trip.

09:16 PM GMT

57mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0

Arsenal need to see this little period out because Monaco are certainly encouraged by the errors the home side are making.

09:15 PM GMT

55mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0

First corner of the match goes to Monaco. Ben Seghir whips in an inswinger but Raya collects easily.

09:14 PM GMT

53mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0

Arteta is telling his team to calm down and take their time but he will be annoyed by how his team have started the second half. Not got going at all.

09:09 PM GMT

49mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0

Sluggish start by Arsenal to the half. A few misplaced passes and Monaco have started sharply.

09:06 PM GMT

47mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0

Kiwior brings down Akliouche midway in Arsenal’s half. From the free kick whipped in by Camara, Kehrer attacks it and his thumping header flashes wide.

A warning for Arsenal.

09:04 PM GMT

SECOND HALF: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0

Martinelli comes out for the second half. Strong argument that Arteta should have taken him off as a precaution. Will he repay his manager’s faith?

A change for Monaco:

OFF Magassa
ON Minamino

08:56 PM GMT

Arsenal’s main man

08:48 PM GMT

HALF TIME: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0

Finally a save for Raya to make as Akliouche shoots at goal but it’s an easy take for him. The whistle blows and Arsenal lead at the break.

They should be much further ahead but are fortunate not to be down to 10 men.

08:46 PM GMT

45mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0

Martinelli is very lucky not to get another yellow card after bringing down Camara. It’s a cynical foul. On another day, he could have been off.

One minute added on.

08:45 PM GMT

44mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0

With a makeshift defence, it is important Arsenal’s attackers take the pressure off them. To do that, they really need to finish the chances they are creating.

08:43 PM GMT

41mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0

The offside flag is up but it is another poor finish by an Arsenal player. An outrageous pass by Odegaard into Martinelli and the wide man curls his shot wide.

Painfully for Arsenal, had Martinelli scored the goal would have stood because he was onside.

08:42 PM GMT

‘All about Lewis-Skelly’

Saka goal, Jesus assist, but that’s all about Lewis-Skelly in midfield. Spins away from the midfield and slices apart the Monaco defence with the pass to Jesus.

08:41 PM GMT

39mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0

Odegaard intercepts a pass from Magassa near the half way line and bursts clear towards goal. The Norweigan has the freedom of the Emirates but he never looks comfortable and fires his shot wide of the far post.

A really bad miss.

08:40 PM GMT

38mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0

Partey fires a cross into the box, Martinelli tries to redirect it but his effort is wide.

Arsenal well on top at the moment.

08:39 PM GMT

36mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0

That goal is Arsenal’s first from open play for 286 minutes.

08:36 PM GMT

33mins: Arsenal 1 Monaco 0 GOAL

Arsenal get the goal their play has deserved. Great feet by Lewis-Skelly to beat Akliouche. The teenager slips in Jesus, who times his run well and plays an inch perfect ball across the box to Saka at the far post to tap in.

There’s a VAR check but the goal stands. Great move.

08:33 PM GMT

31mins: Arsenal 0 Monaco 0

Yellow card for Martinelli after pulling back Golovin. No arguments with that decision.

08:32 PM GMT

‘Poor Gabriel Jesus’

Poor Gabriel Jesus is having a horrible time in front of goal at the moment. Those two misses mean he has still scored only twice in 2024. Once against Nottingham Forest in January, and then against Preston in the League Cup in October. Safe to say it’s not what you’d expect of a £45 million striker.

08:31 PM GMT

27mins: Arsenal 0 Monaco 0

Another chance for Jesus. Arsenal cut through their defence again and Jesus is through on goal. Kehrer stays tight on him and deflects Jesus’ effort which is saved.

Arsenal starting to take over the match now but need a goal to cement their dominance.

08:29 PM GMT

25mins: Arsenal 0 Monaco 0

Glorious chance for Jesus to score his 25th Champions League goal. He spins in behind off a Kiwior long ball. Majecki should come and get it but he stays back and gives the Brazilian a clear sight on goal but the striker’s shot hits the Monaco keeper’s legs.

08:25 PM GMT

24mins: Arsenal 0 Monaco 0

A little bit flat inside the Emirates. Needs a moment to spark fans into life. Odegaard does his best to provide it but again he curls a shot wide. It has been an easy night for Monaco keeper Majecki so far.

08:22 PM GMT

19mins: Arsenal 0 Monaco 0

The Odegaard and Saka combination makes its first impact on the game. Saka finds Odegaard in a bit of space on the edge of the box and the skipper curls an effort over the bar.

08:18 PM GMT

16mins: Arsenal 0 Monaco 0

Early stages but enough signs that this won’t be an easy night for Arsenal. Monaco are happy to press the home side high and play the ball out from the back.

08:14 PM GMT

12mins: Arsenal 0 Monaco 0

Arsenal fans are furious when Embolo goes down. They don’t want the Arsenal players to kick the ball out but Partey eventually does. Of course, Embolo slowly gets himself up eventually.

08:11 PM GMT

9mins: Arsenal 0 Monaco 0

Kiwior fails to clear his lines and Monaco win the ball back. They shift it nicely and Golovin fires a shot just past the post. That’s the closest chance of the match.

08:10 PM GMT

8mins: Arsenal 0 Monaco 0

This is the first time that Rice, Odegaard and Merino have started in midfield for Arsenal and it has been a promising first few minutes for Merino, especially. The Spaniard has worked his way into the left channel a few times already.

08:07 PM GMT

6mins: Arsenal 0 Monaco 0

Another chance for Arsenal. They work the ball well, Martinelli finds Merino in the box and the Spaniard fires in a cross which just evades Jesus in the six-yard box.

08:06 PM GMT

4mins: Arsenal 0 Monaco 0

Arsenal in for the first time. Jesus wins the ball back, Odegaard then slips him in on goal on the left side but his sidefoot finish is a comfortable save for Majecki.

08:03 PM GMT

2mins: Arsenal 0 Monaco 0

An important evening for Gabriel Jesus. He has 24 goals from 50 appearances in the Champions League. But he hasn’t scored in the Premier League since January.

08:01 PM GMT

Kick Off: Arsenal vs Monaco

Arsenal get the match underway!

07:59 PM GMT

Here we go!

The teams walk out onto the pitch at the Emirates and the Champions League anthem plays out.

The Arsenal players are wearing a very nice varsity jacket. Ally McCoist is a fan and I am too.

Kick off is moments away!!

07:52 PM GMT

A reminder of the teams

Arsenal: Raya, Partey, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Merino, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Jesus.
Subs: Neto, Setford, Timber, Tierney, Robinson, Heaven, Monlouis, Jorginho, Nwaneri, Trossard, Sterling, Havertz.

Monaco: Majecki, Vanderson, Kehrer, Salisu, Henrique, Magassa, Camara, Akliouche, Golovin, Ben Seghir, Embolo.
Subs: Kohn, Lienard, Teze, Matazo, Minamino, Ouattara, Ilenikhena, Michal, Nibombe, Tincres.

07:47 PM GMT

Is this Arsenal’s best midfield combination?

07:38 PM GMT

‘Set piece again, ole ole’

Right now, the most popular man among the Arsenal supporters is not a player. Strangely enough, it is a set piece coach. Arsenal’s last three goals have all come from set pieces and Nicolas Jover is the architect of their remarkable success from these corners and free-kicks.

Such is Jover’s popularity, he now has his own mural outside the Emirates Stadium. We can’t be certain of this but I would be quite confident in suggesting that he’s the first set-piece coach to ever have such a thing created in his honour.

In recent matches the Arsenal fans have been singing “set piece again, ole ole”. It’s all quite good fun, really. Unless you’re defending the back post as a bunch of red-shirted giants descend on you to attack a corner. Let’s see if Monaco can handle it.

07:28 PM GMT

Opta stat

Aged 18 years and 76 days, Lewis-Skelly is the youngest player to start a UEFA Champions League match for Arsenal since Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in September 2011 vs. Olympiakos (18y 44d).

Pre-match thoughts from Arteta on Lewis-Skelly:

07:20 PM GMT

‘One of the most highly-rated young players in the country’

It’s a big night for young Myles Lewis-Skelly, who is making his first start in the Champions League. The 18-year-old has long been one of the most highly-rated young players in the country and, alongside his close friend Ethan Nwaneri, he is regarded as a player with the ability to become a genuine star of the first-team.

Lewis-Skelly came through the youth ranks as a midfielder but is being remoulded by Mikel Arteta as an inverting full-back. It’s a complicated position but Lewis-Skelly is a determined, driven and confident young man. With so many injuries at left-back, this is his big chance.

07:15 PM GMT

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07:10 PM GMT

Monaco starting XI

Monaco: Majecki, Vanderson, Kehrer, Salisu, Henrique, Magassa, Camara, Akliouche, Golovin, Ben Seghir, Embolo.
Subs: Kohn, Lienard, Teze, Matazo, Minamino, Ouattara, Ilenikhena, Michal, Nibombe, Tincres.

07:05 PM GMT

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07:00 PM GMT

Arsenal team news explained

Mikel Arteta has made four changes to his side for tonight’s match, with Myles Lewis-Skelly handed his second start for the club.

The 18-year-old comes in at left-back in place of Jurrien Timber, who drops to the bench. Mikel Merino is also handed a start with Jorginho dropping to the bench.

Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus are also handed starts ahead of Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz who are named on the bench.

06:53 PM GMT

Arsenal’s team to face Monaco

Arsenal XI: Raya; Partey, Saliba, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly; Rice, Merino, Odegaard; Saka, Martinelli, Jesus.
Subs: Neto, Setford, Tierney, Heaven, Timber, Robinson, Monlouis, Jorginho, Sterling, Nwaneri, Trossard, Havertz.

06:45 PM GMT

Arsenal welcome Monaco to Emirates

Hello and welcome to coverage from the Emirates as Arsenal host AS Monaco in the Champions League.

A win for the home side would edge them closer to booking their place in the last-16 of the competition and avoid having a knockout play-off match in February 2025.

Arsenal have ten points from their five matches so far, including three victories. Their last match in Europe was a resounding 5-1 win over Portuguese side Sporting. But they come into this match with an injury crisis in defence.

Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori and Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jurrien Timber and Thomas Partey were all absent from open training on Tuesday. With Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu also on the sidelines, manager Mikel Arteta may turn to Kieran Tierney at left-back after his recovery from a torn hamstring.

Arteta said: “He (Tierney) is ready and he’s training really well and he’s going to have an opportunity for sure with the way the team is looking at the moment. He’s earned it as well with the way he’s behaved and the way he’s been with us because he’s willing to do it and when that happens you have to give opportunities to those kind of players.”

Despite their mounting injury issues, captain Martin Odegaard believes they are ready to go all the way and deliver their first ever Champions League title.

“That’s the feeling in the squad,” he said. “Everyone believes so much in what we are doing. We have confidence in everything we do as a team.

“Last year we learned a few good lessons. We wanted to go all the way (in the Champions League) and we didn’t so we had to take those lessons and make sure we got better.

“If you look at the last game (against Sporting) it was a really tough fixture away from home and we did amazingly. That is a sign of improvement. We believe in what we do and hopefully this can be the year.”