Monaco stunned Arsenal to win the first leg of their Champions League tie 3-1 at the Emirates. Goals from Geoffrey Kondogbia, Dimitar Berbatov and Yannick Ferreira Carrasco capped a thoroughly professional performance from the Ligue 1 side, who have put themselves into a very strong position heading into the reverse fixture. Only a late strike from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain gave the hosts something to cheer.
3 things we learned from Monaco’s brilliant win over Arsenal
Monaco counter-attacked their way to a glorious 3-1 win away at the Emirates.
Despite their defeat, Arsenal got off to a bright start, energetically zipping the ball around in the final third and creating a couple of chances in the process. The best was, rather ominously, their very first, and it arrived when Danny Welbeck spun around the back of Monaco left-back Elderson Echiéjilé, only to whiff his shot over the crossbar from a tight angle.
Unfortunately for the home crowd, the Gunners seemed to lose their urgency as the clock ticked on. Monaco began to enjoy spells on the ball themselves, and though they didn't cause David Ospina any problems, Arsenal looked increasingly lethargic. Only the twinkle-toed Alexis Sánchez looked capable of turning the game, and narrowly dinked over the crossbar just past the half-hour.
Eventually, Arsenal were punished for their pedestrian passing, when a piledriver from Geoffrey Kondogbia took a heavy deflection of Per Mertesacker on its way into the back of the Arsenal goal. It was a freak occurrence, and one that Monaco's rather impotent attacking play didn't particularly warrant, but it changed the complexion of the tie in an instant.
Arsenal came out for the second half with renewed vigour, and Olivier Giroud almost equalised twice within seven minutes. First Sánchez's low cross was stabbed wide by the Frenchman, then he headed Santi Cazorla's free-kick wide from inside the area. The Gunners seemed to be getting ever closer, an equalising goal seemed just around the corner.
But just went the hosts seemed to be settling into the game, they went and remembered that they are Arsenal. Centre-back Mertesacker decided to take a wander upfield, only to be caught out of position by a brilliantly incisive pass from Fabinho. His through ball sent Anthony Martial tearing down the left, with the Frenchman’s square pass leaving Dimitar Berbatov with a very simple finish for 2-0.
The Gunners needed a quick response, and almost found it when Sánchez's drilled shot was parried into the path of Giroud just short of the hour -- only for the striker to scoop the ball over the crossbar with an open goal gaping. It was the first of two similar chances, the second coming when Welbeck's drilled shot from inside the box was somehow blocked by his own teammate Theo Walcott, who had been hauled on in place of the unimpressive Giroud.
Monaco remained a constant threat on the counter-attack, their attacking pace causing constant issues for Arsenal's leaden-footed centre-back pairing. They went closest to killing the tie when João Moutinho flicked the ball across for Martial in space at the back post, thought though Ospina got down to make what could prove to be a tie-saving stop.
Arsenal did manage to pull a goal back, though it didn’t come until stoppage time. Substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain found sufficient space on the edge of the penalty area to curl the ball into the top corner. It was a deserved reward after they’d blown a couple of great chances, but their joy was short lived.
Within three minutes, Monaco had doubled their lead, and netted a third away goal in the process. Another devastating counter culminated in a fine finish by substitute Yannick Ferreira Carrasco, giving the Gunners all to do in the second leg.
Arsenal: Ospina; Gibbs, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Bellerín; Cazorla (Rosický 81’), Coquelin (Oxlade-Chamberlain 68’); Sánchez, Özil, Welbeck; Giroud (Walcott 60’).
Goals: Oxlade-Chamberlain (90+1’).
Monaco: Subašić; Elderson, Abdennour, Wallace, Touré; Kondogbia, Fabinho, Moutinho; Martial (Silva 84’), Berbatov (Ferreira Carrasco 75’), Dirar (Kurzawa 82’).
Goals: Kondogbia (38’), Berbatov (53’), Ferreira Carrasco (90+4’).
3 Things
1. Monaco’s midfield held out impressively
Heading into this game, Monaco were short on several first-teamers; an unfortunate number of them being central midfielders. The result was that they had to draft young right-back Fabinho into an unfamiliar role alongside Geoffrey Kondogbia and João Moutinho. It could’ve backfired horribly, but after a slightly shaky start, they quickly recovered and turned in a very impressive performance. Fabinho wasn’t only solid defensively, but showed his technical prowess with a fine through ball for Monaco’s second. It was a fine display from the youngster.
2. ... Arsenal’s defence didn’t
This Monaco side are far from one of the best in Europe; when Arsenal sat behind the ball in the game’s first quarter, they failed to impress at all. They often resorted to simple long balls up towards Dimitar Berbatov, and as such, their attacks broke down without ever coming to anything. However, in the second half, Arsenal pushed higher up the field in search of an equaliser, and found themselves exposed time and again by their visitors’ devastating pace. Once again Arsène Wenger’s side found themselves playing right into the hands of an opponent, who could’ve punished them with a bigger win.
3. But Monaco sure know how to counter
As badly as Arsenal defended, there’s no doubt that this Monaco team are exceptionally well-drilled. They have quick, technical players who love to gobble up space on the break, so as long as they can keep things tight at the back, they’re a very potent force. Arsenal are lucky Yannick Ferreira Carrasco didn’t start from the off, or this final score could’ve been really embarrassing.
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