Arsenal are looking destined for another UEFA Champions League Round of 16 exit after their shock 1-3 home defeat inthe hands of Monaco on Wednesday night at the Emirates.
Monaco are definitely in the driver’s seat after getting goals from Geoffrey Kondogbia, Dimitar Berbatov and Yannick Ferreira Carrasco.Though Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain curled in a goal for Arsenal at stoppage time, it might not be enough for theLondoners to stay in contention for Europe’s biggest club trophy just yet again.
It was indeed an all-round poor display from the hosts who many had wrongly voted as the firm favourite to nick this tie.
First chance of the night came to Danny Welbeck whenhe was sent scampering through on goal, but the England international was off balance and could only scoophis effort over the bar.
It was Joao Moutinho who was massive on the night that fired Monaco’s first shot of the game on the 20-minute mark, but the Portugal international’s tame effort was to say the least harmless for Ospina who watched it drifted wide.
However there was a dramaticturn of events when Kondogbia finally gave the visitors the lead when his long-range effort deflected off Per Mertesacker to leave David Ospina rooted and no chance of stopping the ball.
When many thought, Arsenal will come back smoking they paratically came back worse and were two goals down 10 minutes into the second half when a quick counter by Monaco left Arsenal two against one at the back, and it was Berbatov who showed nerves to fire in his first Champions League goal for the season.
A glimpse of home came for Arsenal when Oxlade-Chamberlain curled in an effort from outside the box as the clock ticked into stoppage time but that good feeling soon evaporated when Ferreira Carrasco not only restored a two-goal cushion but scored a vital third away goal which many feel has put the nail on the coffin of Arsenal.