Match Report: Arsenal Made to Rue Missed Chances as Monaco Upset the Odds

After finishing second in their group for the third season running in the Champions League it seemed like a stroke of luck that Arsenal had drawn Arsène Wenger’s former club, Monaco. The Ligue 1 outfit had somehow managed to win their group despite netting just 4 goals over the course of their 6 matches prior to the round of 16.

Monaco’s strength in the Champions League this season had been at the back - where they had conceded just a single goal ahead of last night’s match. However, with a number of injuries and a suspension to Jérémy Toulalan, Leonardo Jardim's side had to face Arsenal with a depleted squad and a new central defensive partnership. It was another element that, on paper, looked to favour an Arsenal side who had recently come into a purple patch after seeing off City in the league.

This tie was arguably the Gunners' best chance at reaching the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in 5 years. But nothing ever turns out as anyone expects it to in football — especially where Arsenal are concerned. After the game, when pressed about their favourable draw, Arsene Wenger was quick to point out that “football is not down to paper. Football is down to performance.” As for those performances? Wenger noted that his men were playing with ‘a lot more heart than head.’

Arsenal started the game brightly, controlling much of the possession and looked the likelier of the two sides to find the back of the net. They held the ball in and around Monaco’s box well - however, there wasn’t any real substance to any of that possession. Rather than test Monaco’s fledgling defensive unit, Arsenal managed just a single shot - off target - within the opening 15 minutes.

This first half was not one for the neutrals or fans of attacking football. Both teams erred on the side of caution and did not manage a shot on target until near the end of the opening 45 minutes. Geoffrey Kondogbia’s deflected effort would not only prove to be the first shot to hit the target, but also the opening goal.

Arsenal were first out for the second half and looked keen to right the wrongs of their efforts before the break. However, Leonardo Jardim said after the game that he’d prepared his side for Arsenal to fall away in the second half. Despite their recent run of form, Arsenal have in fact conceded more than twice as many goals in the second half of their league games (20) as they have in the first half (9). And, true to form, they did the same last night.

The villain of the piece as far as the home fans were concerned, Dimitar Berbatov has made more appearances against Arsenal than he has against any other team - racking up 20 in all competitions, netting just 5 goals in that time. Unfortunately for Arsenal, 3 of those 5 have occurred in his last 3 appearances at the Emirates. Berbatov had scored 2 for Fulham in a league appearance in 2012 and just 10 minutes into the second half on Wednesday night.

With just an hour gone, and following a shot that Gary Neville felt the need to call to a deity after yet another failed attempt at goal, it was the end of the night for Olivier Giroud at the other end. Wenger is often reluctant to publicly criticise his players, but it was a disappointing performance from a man who has directly contributed to 8 goals in his last 6 starts. Giroud did attempt 6 shots in his hour long cameo, the most shots he has managed in a Champions League match in his career, but to the disappointment of the home supporters, not a single one was on target.

Although Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain pulled a goal back for Arsenal after being brought on for Francis Coquelin it wasn’t enough to lift their spirits and see them press on for an equaliser. Instead Monaco picked up their third away goal of the tie and may well have sealed Arsenal’s fate of looking ahead to next year’s round of 16 to make amends.

Can Arsenal complete an unlikely turnaround in Monaco to progress to the quarter-finals? Let us know in the comments below