Proud Arsenal Must Take Positives from Champions League Exit Against Monaco

Despite a brave effort against Monaco, Arsenal are out of the Champions League. However, the Gunners did at least restore some pride with a commendable second-leg performance. Amid the pain of elimination, Arsene Wenger will reflect on a display that indicates his team could yet finish the season on a high.

Let’s not pretend this was a good night for Arsenal. Frustration abounds at their fifth exit at this stage of the competition in the last five years. 

The damage was undoubtedly done in the first leg, when Arsenal adopted a kamikaze approach with the scoreline delicately poised at 2-1, pouring forward in search of an equaliser. How costly that proved: Monaco grabbed a third goal on the break, which would prove to be the decisive strike in the tie.

It’s almost impossible to overcome that sort of deficit. Arsenal were spectacularly naive, and given that they’ve made similar mistakes in the past against the likes of Bayern Munich and AC Milan, they have no discernible excuse.

However, with the critical period of the season approaching, the Gunners cannot afford to sulk. They must look at the positives on a night of mixed emotions.

A 2-0 win in Monaco might not have been enough to see Arsenal through to the next round, but in isolation it remains an excellent result. Leonardo Jardim’s team have a famously parsimonious defence. In fact, Arsenal’s two goals at the Stade Louis II were the most Monaco had conceded at home in the Champions League this season.

Wenger will also take some satisfaction from the way his team managed the game. Remarkably, they were able to play with more patience and deliberation in this match than in the first leg, despite the obvious pressure to chase goals. This Arsenal looked mature and composed. Wenger can only hope his charges have finally learnt their lesson. 

There were encouraging individual performances too. In the first half, Danny Welbeck provided energy and dynamism to the attack, while Olivier Giroud banished some of the ghosts of his awful first-leg performance with an emphatic finish that continued his outstanding goalscoring run.

Michael Steele/Getty Images

At the back, Laurent Koscielny was an inspiration to those around him, snuffing out counter-attacks before storming forward to instigate moves for his own team. Spanish full-backs Nacho Monreal and Hector Bellerin shows incredible stamina to offer protection and penetration throughout the game. 

Ahead of them, Santi Cazorla patrolled the midfield with style and steel, and Aaron Ramsey’s goalscoring cameo was further proof that he is coming back to his best form.

Earlier this season, Arsenal were so dependent on Alexis Sanchez that they looked like a one-man team. In Monaco, the Chilean was below par, but Wenger will take comfort from the fact that other players are stepping up to the plate instead. He may even be able to give his superstar forward a much-needed rest in the weekend’s match with Newcastle. 

Michael Steele/Getty Images

Arsenal will now focus on securing their return to the Champions League for next season. Given their propensity to drop out at the knockout stage, Gunners supporters may not be hugely enthused by that prospect. 

Nevertheless, they should not allow their European elimination to cast a shadow over the climax of their 2014/15 campaign. There are signs that they could still end the season with some silverware. If Arsenal continue to perform as they did in Monaco, they surely stand an excellent chance of retaining the FA Cup.

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout the 2014-15 season. Follow him on Twitter here.