Arsenal finally received some luck in the Champions League draw this season, as they drew Ligue 1 runners-up Monaco in the Champions League last 16. For the last two seasons, the Gunners have faced Bayern Munich and have lost on both occasions. They now go into the knockout stages with a little more hope than in recent times.
How good are Monaco
Monaco have had a fairly mixed season after a summer which saw James Rodriguez and Radamel Falcao depart the French side and Les Rouges et Blancs are currently sixth in Ligue 1 with 29 points. After last season, they were expected to have been slightly higher in the league table but due to French Financial Fair Play Regulations, they have been stopped from adding the required quality to their squad to challenge PSG.
Leandro Jardim has created a better image since arriving on the South Coast of France, Monaco have been very solid defensively and have shown that they are no pushovers after defeating league leaders Marseille on Sunday, Joāo Moutinho has worked brilliantly in a midfield three alongside Geoffrey Kondogbia and Tiemoué Bakayoko and their coordination and ability to dictate play has been a defining factor in Monaco’s and Jardim’s succession this season.
Monaco have been targeted as one of the weakest sides in the last 16 and Arsenal will be licking their lips ahead of this tie because they just simply are not a financial powerhouse due to owner Dimtri Rybololev’s £3bn divorce scandal. His actions off the pitch have caused Monaco to suffer the consequences on the pitch. Despite Monaco keeping four clean sheets in the group stages, they scored just six goals and do not have the sufficient quality in the final third to hurt Europe’s elite teams.
Can Arsenal prove their critics wrong?
Arsenal have recently shown, in patches, that they are capable of producing displays that we have come to expect from them. Two 4-1 wins over Galatasaray and Newcastle respectively epitomising their ability to go out and score goals. The Gunners have had rotten luck in cup draws in past seasons, drawing Bayern Munich twice in as many years and despite coming very close to eclipsing the German champions, they haven’t quite had the quality or luck. But finally Arsenal, who again finished as runners-up in their group, got the probably the weakest draw possible and will go up against the French side as favourites.
Arsenal last reached the quarter-finals in 2010 when they were narrowly defeated over two legs by Barcelona and despite never really challenging in Europe, this could be Arsenal’s best chance to qualify to the latter stages in years. Maybe Arsenal’s lack of serious threat and quality in recent last 16 ties has eluded them but they will certainly fancy their biggest chance in years to progress to the quarter-finals for the first time in four years. Many have already written off Arsenal both domestically and in European competitions but I feel this will be their greatest chance in years to progress as far as possible. After all, they progress as expected here and then it is all to play for in the last 8. Another favourable draw and you’re looking at a semi-final. Who knows?
