Mikel Arteta praised Gabriel Jesus for his contribution to Arsenal’s 3-0 victory over Monaco, a win that moved them closer to automatic qualification for the Champions League knockout stages. With two matches remaining in the group phase, Arsenal climbed to third place with 13 points, keeping their hopes of advancing alive. The victory marked an important step in the team’s pursuit of securing a top-two spot in the group.
While Jesus missed two notable chances during the game, he provided a brilliant assist for Bukayo Saka’s opening goal. Saka scored a second after halftime, and Kai Havertz added a third to seal the win. Despite his missed opportunities, Arteta expressed confidence in Jesus’ ability and insisted that the striker’s confidence didn’t need boosting. Arteta said, “Nothing,” when asked how to improve Jesus’ confidence, adding, “Just to put him in front of goal like he’s done today on a couple of occasions, and there are millimeters, centimeters to if the goal goes in or not. He was there, he looked really alive, he had created the first goal from a great move and that’s him, so we have him back he’s with us and I’m sure he will contribute to the team.”
In addition to praising Jesus, Arteta also highlighted the performance of Myles Lewis-Skelly, who made his first Champions League start for Arsenal. The 18-year-old had a crucial role in the buildup to Arsenal’s first goal. Arteta revealed that Lewis-Skelly had impressed during pre-season, saying, “He opened our eyes to say I’m ready, the same as Ethan [Nwaneri]. He feels comfortable in this environment, they can perform, they can compete which is important as well not just play and today he’s shown that he’s at that level.” Arteta’s confidence in young players is evident, as both Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri have demonstrated their readiness for first-team action.
Looking ahead, Arsenal will host Everton on Saturday, hoping to continue their strong run of form and maintain their momentum in both domestic and European competitions.
