In a full-to-bursting Stade Louis-II, AS Monaco got procedings under way. Looking lively, with Kurzawa in particular looking to get forward at every opportunity, the Red & Whites earned the first chance of the night through Moutinho, whose curling shot missed the target. On the back foot for the opening fifteen minutes, Arsenal stepped up a gear with a header from Giroud that went just wide (14 mins). The English side kept up the pressure and Wallace had to be on top form to repel the danger twice in succession (16 mins), before Kurazawa produced a huge tackle to block an effort from Cazorla (19 mins). Koscielny then smacked the ball against the bar, but was adjudged to have been offside (23 mins).

Giroud opens the scoring

AS Monaco were under the cosh but held out until the 36th minuten when Giroud broke the deadlock at the second time of asking. The French international saw his first effort blocked by Subasic, but collected the rebound and swept the ball under the crossbar. Arsenal had done a third of the job, and nearly had another almost immediately, but a double intervention by Abdennour to thwart Welbeck and Giroud kept the score at 1-0. The Gunners' tails were up, and Sanchez took advantage with a run into the penalty area, where he was booked for simulation. Subasic was able to clear and half-time arrived to the relief of the Monaco fans.

Subasic goes full-length to deny Özil

Their team was now just 45 minutes away from a place in the quarter-finals, but everyone knew it would be a long second half. On 53 minutes, Özil smashed in a free kick that was headed for the top corner, but Subasic dived full-length to tip the ball behind for a corner. Moments later, Moutinho and Kondogbia set up a Monegasque counter-attack to send Dirar running clear, only for the Moroccan to be signalled offside as he found himself one-on-one with Ospina. The Red & Whites looked to maintain the pressure through Berbatov and Martial, but Arsenal were able to clear their lines (57 mins).Five minutes later, the Bulgarian was inches away from converting a Moutinho free-kick, but was just unable to get a touch on the ball in front of the Arsenal goal (62 mins). Özil responded with a volley that skimmed Subasic's right-hand post on 64 minutes.

Back into Europe's Top 8!

Shortly after coming on as a substitute for Martial, Carrasco attempted a counter in the 67th minute, and the Belgian beat a number of defenders but was denied as he shaped to shoot. The visitors were dominant, though AS Monaco were weathering the storm and went into the final fifteen with a two-goal advantage intact. But the suspense was then cranked up yet another notch , as Walcott saw an effort cannon back off the post and Ramsey seized on a poor clearance by Kurzawa to score the Londoners' second with a shot inside the far post (79 mins). Arsenal were now just a goal away from qualifying, but Subasic intervened brilliantly to deny Giroud on 84 minutes. The referee indicated there would be five minutes of added time, during which the Gunners' laid siege to the Monegasque goal, but the third goal never materialised. The Louis-II could finally celebrate! Despite losing on the night, the Red & Whites nonetheless achieved something special. Eleven years after the "Red Epic" of 2004, AS Monaco are back in Europe's Top 8!