Arsenal beat Monaco 2-0 but still eliminated from Champions League

Monaco players survived to advance thanks to a good performance in the first leg. Photo:Reuters.

Oliver Giroud opened the scoring near the end of the first half after two consecutive finishes. The French striker's goal gave the London team confidence to come back, and then Aron Ramsey doubled the gap near the end of the second half.

With just one more goal from a series of dangerous chances created throughout the second leg, Arsene Wenger's team would have made an unprecedented miracle in the history of the Champions League. Just one more step and the Gunners would have reached heaven, but one step is sometimes a matter of powerlessness. Two goals were not enough for Arsenal to make up for the mistake of losing 1-3 in the first leg.

Like another English club, Chelsea, Arsenal did not lose in the round of 16. The aggregate score after two matches with Monaco was 3-3 but the Gunners could not get a ticket to the quarter-finals due to the away goals rule.

For the fifth consecutive season, Arsenal were eliminated from the Champions League round of 16.

This is the fourth consecutive season that Arsenal have been unbeaten (three wins, one draw) in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16. But the Emirates team has also been eliminated that many times. "Leaving the game with their heads held high", "Glorious defeat" are beautiful words to describe the fate of Wenger's army, but that is just a consolation that perhaps the French strategist himself does not want. Instead, he probably wonders why his students did not play as well in the first leg as last night's confrontation.

The Gunners controlled the ball for 70% of the time, launching 15 shots, 10 of which were on target. This is an overwhelming number considering that Monaco only had two shots in 90 minutes. Goalkeeper David Ospina was quite leisurely while his colleague Dubasic had a hard day.

Coach Wenger is disappointed as time runs out with Arsenal. Photo: AFP.

The players who disappointed in the first leg improved in the return. Per Metsack was solid at the back during some of the home team's counter-attacks. Arsenal's defence made up for their individual mistakes and were safe in front of Ospina's goal. Oliver Giroud, who had missed a series of good chances at the Emirates, scored the equaliser and had two other dangerous finishes. Danny Welbeck worked hard down the flanks and set up his strike partner.

Arsenal come to the Stade Louis II with a very difficult task, scoring at least three goals against Monaco, the team with the best defense in the Champions League and Ligue 1 this season.

The home team did not start the game cautiously because of their two-goal advantage. Coach Leonardo Jardim's team actively increased the speed from the start, playing offensively so that Arsenal could not easily dominate the match. After the first 10 minutes, Arsenal controlled the ball and increased the pressure. In the last 15 minutes, opportunities appeared one after another for the English team. The great hope could turn the game around if they maintained this pace.

In the 36th minute, Arsenal scored from a good combination, in a situation where Monaco's defense showed signs of slackening. Welbeck passed the ball into the penalty area, creating an opportunity for Giroud to finish close to the goal. Goalkeeper Subasic blocked the first shot, but the French striker's follow-up shot went into the Monaco net.

Monaco's joy after the final whistle. Photo: AFP.

Two minutes later, Welbeck continued to threaten the goal with a powerful shot in the penalty area but centre-back Abdenour was able to reach out and clear the ball just five metres from the goal line.

The break saw Arsenal's excitement falter while Monaco regained their composure. The home team played more disciplined in the second half, making it difficult for Arsenal to create good chances like at the end of the first half.

Faced with a stalemate, Wenger made two substitutions, bringing Walcott and Ramsey onto the pitch. The two substitutes played a part in the goal that doubled the lead. In the 79th minute, Walcott's close-range shot was blocked by goalkeeper Subasic. Defender Kurzawa's indecisive clearance gave Ramsey the chance to score a tricky rebound.

In the final minutes, Giroud's shot from five metres away was punched away by the goalkeeper right on the goal line. Walcott and Ramsey had chances but could not score the decisive goal for the Gunners.

According to VNE