Arsenal fans around the world would have been very relieved when they were drawn against Monaco in the round of 16 of the Champions League. For the first time in a very long time they would not be up against one of the European elite clubs. Arsène Wenger was spot on when he said that there are no easy ties at this level of football and he was proved right as his side succumbed to a 1-3 defeat at home against the French giants.

Arsenal began the match brightly with an early chance created for Welbeck, which the English forward failed to get on target. Arsenal’s creative midfield was able to cut through the gaps in the Monaco defense easily on a few occasions but there was no concrete shot on goal that tested the 'keeper. Monaco went for an interesting mix of experience and youthful exuberance as they partnered former Spurs and Manchester United veteran Dimitar Berbatov with 19-year-old Anthony Martial, one of the brightest attacking prospects in Ligue 1.

In the 37th minute Alexis Sanchez, Santi Cazorla and Hector Bellerin combined to create a wonderful opportunity for Giroud in the box, but the French international scuffed his shot. However, Monaco took the lead like an away team usually does – against the run of play. Kondogbia took a pot shot at goal from the edge of the area and his shot deflected off Arsenal’s towering German defender Per Mertesacker and fooled Ospina into remaining motionless, as the ball crashed into the back of the net.

At the turn of the half Arsenal almost made an immediate impact when Alexis tricked his way past Abdennour and setup Giroud in the six-yard box; the Frenchman couldn’t make clear contact and it fell off harmlessly for a goal kick. He had another opportunity in the 52nd minute from a Cazorla free-kick but he headed it wide and over. By this time, he was unable to hide his frustration for not being able to work the 'keeper. Worse was to follow as Monaco came on the counter attack and Abdennour setup Martial to run at Koscielny, who had the easiest task of passing to his striking partner Berbatov. Making full use of his experience and composure he smacked the ball to the opposite post of Ospina’s goal, doubling the Ligue 1 team’s lead in the 53rd minute.

Giroud had been in excellent form in recent weeks but he was the embodiment of a striker completely out of form. He missed yet another chance in the 55th minute when he skied a clear shot on an empty goal after Subosic had pushed out a shot from Alexis. On came Theo Walcott for a dismal Giroud and it seemed the logical substitution. Arsenal had had eight shots on goal till that point, six of which had fallen to the Frenchman, none of which were on target. Ospina made an important save from Martial’s shot in the 61st minute when the striker was one-on-one. Moutinho took an instinctive shot from the edge of the area in the 62nd minute but his dipping shot was over the bar. Monaco were cruising in this game.

Walcott and Welbeck both had the opportunity to pull one back in the 64th minute but Subosic saved Theo’s shot and Welbeck only managed to deflect his shot off his countryman. Arsène Wenger began to gamble by taking off Coquelin and bringing on Chamberlain in the 68th minute. Alexis scoffed yet another opportunity in the 82nd minute from a corner and that probably summed up Arsenal’s attack on the night.

Just when it seemed all hope was lost, Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain got one back, right into added time from a creative corner routine between Alexis and Ozil. After shimmying past Kondogbia the young English international let off a perfectly placed right footed curler that went to the top corner of Subosic’s net. Hope in stoppage time? No. Yannick-Ferreira Carrasco, a second half substitute, who came on for Berbatov, extinguished all hopes of a revival as he scored one off the post in the last minute of stoppage time. The Emirates fell silent, barring the corner of 7,000 away supporters.

If Arsenal had underestimated their opponents then it was one huge mistake. They now have to overturn a two goal deficit when they go to Monaco and yet, have to score at least three goals to even match the French team on away goals. It’s not like Arsenal aren’t used to coming back strongly in the second leg ties before but it wasn’t expected of them today.