In the Zone: How Arsenal punished Monaco

Mikel Arteta's Arsenal registered a fourth victory in the UEFA Champions League with an impressive 3-0 win against an enterprising Monaco side to go third in the table.

In this article brought to you by FedEx, UEFA match observer Gareth Southgate, working together with UEFA's analysis unit, highlights the decisive impact of Arsenal's pressing instincts and smart penetration in transition.

The first video reveals a key aspect of Gabriel Martinelli's role in a first-half performance that could have yielded greater rewards than the one-goal lead established by Bukayo Saka's 34th-minute strike.

The Brazilian left-sided attacker reacts swiftly to a crossfield switch of play forced by Arsenal's vertical and horizontal compactness.

After stealing possession, the winger immediately finds his compatriot Gabriel Jesus attacking the space in between the two Monaco centre-backs. "Arsenal should have been three or four goals ahead by half-time," said Southgate. "They showed typically excellent pressing and quality passing." The former England manager cited Jesus's effort on goal as "one of three 1v1 opportunities in the first half created by Monaco losing possession in dangerous areas or by one through ball".

Radosław Majecki's fine save was the Polish keeper's second stop in a 1v1 encounter with Jesus in just two minutes.

The Arsenal No9 proved a threat throughout, receiving the ball four times between the lines until Kai Havertz replaced him in the 73rd minute. Jesus also made 16 runs in behind – second only to Saka, who led the way for Arsenal with 21 and played the whole game.

The second video showcases the acute game intelligence of Arsenal's inspirational captain. "Martin Ødegaard starts so much for Arsenal with and without the ball," explained Southgate.

Again Arsenal retain collective compactness despite a crossfield switch. Monaco right-back Vanderson's bobbling and backwards pass to Soungoutou Magassa offers a trigger for Ødegaard, who jumps to steal possession with a clever blindside pressing action that leads to a clear run on goal for the Norway international.

Impressive game sense and anticipation out of possession proved a regular feature for the Gunners when pressing, according to Southgate. "Ødegaard was often prominent," he noted. "And Martinelli covering inside as Mikel Merino jumped to the pivot."

Ødegaard's contribution was not confined to pressing, of course. "In possession, he was always trying to pull to the side of Monaco's narrow 4-3-3 block to receive," explained Southgate.

The final video illustrates Ødegaard's intelligent decision-making in the final third.

As David Raya's long ball drops in the Monaco half – with each team's 4-3-3 set-up clear to see – Monaco win the second ball but Arsenal's compact positioning permits Ødegaard to press aggressively and dispossess Lamine Camara.

With Jesus and Martinelli immediately threatening the space behind the retreating back line, Ødegaard offers a masterclass in timing, perception and creative distribution to attract three defenders before executing a delicate bounced pass over the Monaco captain Thilo Kehrer's outstretched left leg.

While it proved to be another first-half chance spurned, the clip emphasises important aspects of Arsenal's strengths in transition. "The key is switching from an aggressive mentality in the press to calm composure in order to find the weight of pass," explained Southgate. "Then it's about getting the head up quickly to see the opportunity and release the pass."

All three clips show the importance of "good individual work, timing, angle of approach, aggression" in pressing actions, he added.

While Saka was named Player of the Match for two goals and an assist as "the decisive attacking contribution on a night when Arsenal missed numerous chances", Southgate also noted the speed of thought and penetration of 18-year-old left-back Myles Lewis-Skelly in creating the first goal.

"Lewis-Skelly's role in the first goal is not dissimilar to the strengths in transition," he said. "He shows quick feet to round the challenge, then has a brief look up before releasing a quick forward pass to Jesus."

For Monaco's Kehrer, losing key duels proved costly. "We had some turnovers in the game and sometimes lost possession in crucial areas, where Arsenal had chances," he said. "We gave them too many gifts, losing the ball too easily. They punished that today."