Arsenal moved up to third in the Champions League group phase rankings with a 3-0 win over Monaco secured thanks to another clinical display by Bukayo Saka. The England international netted either side of the break and provided a late assist for substitute Kai Havertz on a night when the Gunners were equal parts comfortable and sloppy.
Here’s what the managers, players, pundits and stattos made of the action…
Mikel Arteta on the win and Arsenal’s chances of qualifying in the top eight…
I’m very happy – it’s always very difficult to win in the Champions League. 3-0 and a clean sheet puts us in a really good position in the group. I’m really pleased as well to see some players that haven’t played that much. We are in a good position [to qualify in the top eight] and we need to get the job done, and there’s still a lot to do. I’m disappointed we didn’t score another three or four especially in the first half, because we had some big, big chances. That’s going to be crucial and looking at the table and how tight it is, [goal difference] is going to be really important. We’re in a good position, we still have a lot to do, so one more.
Source: Arsenal.com
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Monaco coach Adi Hutter on the way the game panned out…
First of all, a deserved victory for Arsenal. Too many gifts from our side, it’s not acceptable at this level. I was happy with the first 20 minutes and also [from half-time] to the second goal. For me, the second half was really brave and what I expected. But in the end, there were too many big mistakes. Don’t forget that we had three really good opportunities to score the equaliser, through Takumi Minamino, then the header off a free kick from Thilo Kehrer and also from Breel Embolo. We have to take these opportunities to get the equaliser. Arsenal made some changes which brought the game into their hands. The crucial moment, for sure, was the second goal, which was a big mistake from our side.
Source: Uefa.com
Arsenal (2.20) 3-0 (0.44) Monaco
— The xG Philosophy (@xGPhilosophy) December 11, 2024
Man-of-the-match Bukayo Saka on the win…
It was [a tough game] because I felt like we didn’t punish them. We had a lot of chances to put the game to bed, especially in the first half, and we didn’t, so in the second half we had to suffer a bit. In the end, we scored three goals and got the job done. We’ll take it.
Source: Uefa.com
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Monaco captain Thilo Kehrer on his side’s performance…
“In the first half we started well. We had a few situations we could have taken advantage of, but we didn’t finish them or get good shots or chances. But we caused a few problems for Arsenal. We had some turnovers in the game and sometimes we lost possession in crucial areas, where Arsenal had chances. We gave them too many gifts, losing the ball too easily. They punished that today.
Source: Uefa.com
14 – Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 14 home games in all competitions (W12 D2), their best run under Mikel Arteta and best since an 18-game run under Arsene Wenger between March and November 2017. Surging.
— OptaJoe (@optajoe.com) December 11, 2024 at 10:21 PM
William Saliba on the win and another UCL clean sheet…
When you’re a defender and you make a clean sheet, you can only be happy. Everyone defended well, everyone attacked well today so we are so proud of this. In the first half we could have killed the game earlier and at the beginning of the second half we suffered a bit but we stayed strong and scored more goals. Of course, when we can kill the game, we have to because they could have equalised.
Source: TNT Sports
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UEFA’s Technical Observer Panel on awarding Bukayo Saka the man-of-the-match award:
Two goals and an assist ended up being the decisive attacking contribution on a night when Arsenal missed numerous chances.
Source: Uefa.com
10 – Bukayo Saka has 10 assists in Arsenal's 13 Premier League games this term; only Cesc Fàbregas in 2014-15 (12), Mesut Özil in 2015-16 (12), & Harry Kane in 2020-21 (11) have reached 10 assists in fewer of a team's games from the start of a season in the competition. Platter. pic.twitter.com/9c6T2hvLK6
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 30, 2024
Arteta on whether Saka is world-class…
You have to be able to do that consistently throughout many years to put yourself in that position. What he’s already done at his age, you can already put in brackets, because we can compare what he’s done in his first six years of professional football which is exceptional, you know, and that’s it and his aim is to improve. He has the players and environment to continue to do that and I’m sure he will.
Source: Post-game press conference
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Saliba on the disruption of playing with different partners this season…
Yeah, it’s the first time we’ve had a lot of injuries in defence but a good defender has to adapt and I think we did well. Myles is 18, he played so well today, Kuba Kiwior as well, Thomas, he’s not a right-back but he played well as well, so we’re happy, we have to adapt.
Source: TNT Sports
96% – Myles Lewis-Skelly completed 45 of 47 passes tonight, the best passing accuracy (min. 25 passes) by an Arsenal teenager in a UEFA Champions League game since Johan Djourou vs Hamburger SV in September 2006 (97%), in the month Lewis-Skelly was born. Generations.
— OptaJoe (@optajoe.com) December 11, 2024 at 10:24 PM
Myles Lewis-Skelly on making his Champions League debut…
I just felt ready, I had full belief in myself and prepared myself for this moment mentally. I was just ready to go into the game. I’m over the moon. I’m just grateful to have been given an opportunity to get my starting debut. I’m going to kick on and help the team out as much as I can.
Source: Arsenal.com
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Joe Cole on Arsenal’s youngsters…
They’ve got players coming through now that I think they may need. I still feel their squad is a tad thin, Raheem Sterling has fallen out of favour, so I think these young lads will have a say.
Source: TNT Sports
Bukayo Saka at the Emirates Stadium in the #UCL:
◉ 7 games
◉ 7 goals
◉ 3 assists#ARSASM pic.twitter.com/RtVPvHi5AB— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) December 11, 2024
Bukayo Saka on Myles Lewis-Skelly…
We all believe in him. I’m happy that he showed everyone, he showed the fans and the world what he can do. I hope this is just the start for him.
Source: Uefa.com
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Mikel Arteta on handing Lewis-Skelly his debut…
Myles coming in and having his [full] debut in the Champions League at 18 years old and performing the way he did, it was great. He’s earned the chance for us to trust him, to believe him. Obviously, there are certain conditions that have facilitated him to be here and when he had the chance, he grabbed it. He played with a lot of personality, a lot of courage and competed really well in the game.
Source: Arsenal.com
Following another 3 tonight, Bukayo Saka is already in the top 10 for most Champions League goal involvements for the #Arsenal
Henry 51
Fabregas 27
van Persie 24
Walcott 24
Pires 19
Giroud 18
Sanchez 18
Ljungberg 16
Bergkamp 15
Saka 14— Tom Ede (@TomEde1) December 11, 2024
Martin Keown on Arteta’s substitutions…
I thought it was a professional performance [by Arsenal], there was a bit of a drop, maybe we can call it fatigue, and I thought the manager reacted really well to that, Jorginho coming on, Timber and Trossard playing their part.
Source: TNT Sports
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Karen Carney on how Arsenal handled the occasion…
I thought it was the perfect evening. Of course, there were opportunities in the first half where they probably should have come in two, three, four-nil up, but it was professional, three goals, clean sheet, no injuries, young players getting their minutes and making the right decisions at the right time to bring on people and get the three points. You don’t want to play extra games in this competition [in February], move on and concentrate on the Premier League.
Source: TNT Sports
The UEFA Champions League table after Matchweek 6 📊
Liverpool sit comfortably at the top, while Man City find themselves just a point away from the #UCL elimination zone 😲 pic.twitter.com/76CGFqbW0B
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 11, 2024
Myles Lewis-Skelly on his contribution to Arsenal’s opener…
I want to play into my strengths, which is getting past players and being composed on the ball. I got away from my man well and then saw Gabby. We work [on it] in training and him peeling off and playing in between the lines, and then Bukayo reading it for a team goal. It was good.
Source: Arsenal.com
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Arteta on what he can do to boost Gabriel Jesus’ confidence…
Nothing, just to put him in front of goal like he’s done today on a couple of occasions, and there are millimetres, centimetres to if the goal goes in or not. He was there, he looked really alive, he had created the first goal from a great move and that’s him, so we have him back he’s with us and I’m sure he will contribute to the team.
Source: Post-game press conference
COYG!
The stat from Tom Ede on Saka is pretty interesting. In the top 10 Arsenal players for CL goal involvements already and let’s not forget this is only his second CL campaign. A lot of the other players in that list had several. This not only shows us just how effective Saka is but also how much everything goes through him. Looking at that list, all the other players there were not so important to the team as a single player. Bergkamp, Henry, Ljungberg, Pires all part of one unit, Fabregas and Van Persie another and Sanchez and Giroud from… Read more »
I like that Saka could easily be in the top 5 of that list by the end of this season if we do well in the next couple of games and the knockout rounds. Oh and here’s an idea – let’s win the fucking champions league.
Kuba Kiwior!
Not sure why but imagining Saliba calling him that in training in his thick French accent makes me happy. “Kuba! Nonono Kuba yoo pley heem onside putain!” *blows raspberry*
Just one win against Dynamo Zaghreb the we can send Nwaneri to captain the U21s against Girona
I heard somewhere that 15 points will get you automatic qualification for the round of 16. I don’t agree. I think we will have to win our last two games to avoid the playoff round. But, on paper at least, the hard work is already done. Zagreb (h) and Girona (a) are very winnable matches.
Yeah I didn’t understand this either. Can’t see how we don’t have to win both. Maybe one is enough but can’t be sure.
The widely accepted cutoff prior to the competition starting was 15 points. As things stand, if we get a hypothetical three points from the last two games, it would be nearly impossible for us to not finish in the top eight. Only 19 of 36 teams could currently make it to 16 points. Without getting into all the possible outcomes/iterations, it may already be the case that 16 points guarantees top eight, as there are a ton of games yet to be played between all those teams, and points gained for one obviously equal points dropped for another. Give us… Read more »
Never thought I’d ever see a player I loved more than Bergkamp. But in Saka, I now have that player.