Arsenal vs Monaco: Gunners midfield 'couldn't tackle a hot dinner,' says Jamie Redknapp

Arsenal were beaten 3-1 by the French side

Thursday 26 February 2015 09:18 GMT

Arsene Wenger pictured during Arsenal's defeat to Monaco (GETTY IMAGES)

Arsenal's dysfunctional midfield has attracted the criticism of Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp, with the former Liverpool player claiming they 'couldn't tackle a hot dinner'.

The FA Cup holders' hopes of reaching the quarter-finals were dealt a huge blow after the 3-1 loss to the Ligue 1 side, courtesy of goals from Geoffrey Kondogbia, Dimitar Berbatov and Yannick Ferreira Carrasco.

Redknapp and fellow Sky pundit Graeme Souness were scathing of the lack of leadership in the centre of Arsene Wenger's side, while club legend Thierry Henry was clearly distressed by his former club's plight.

The former Tottenham midfielder said: "Arsenal were off the cuff. I didn’t think (Francis) Coquelin was too bad but he was taken off as he was booked so Arsenal were left with (Santi) Cazorla, a wonderfully gifted attacking player, (Tomas) Rosicky, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

"That midfield couldn’t tackle a hot dinner. Kondogbia was incredible for Monaco, he was exactly the player Arsenal needed to sign."

Meanwhile Souness, who has lifted the European Cup on three occasions, added: '"They were so, so disorganised.

Dimitar Berbatov celebrates his goal against Arsenal (GETTY IMAGES)

"Arsene Wenger keeps trying to create ultimate football, they have all these creative players that want to go forward but all successful teams have contrasting types of players, people who can break up the play and ease up the pressure.

"I’ve said it many times before that Arsenal are too easy to play against, an average European team has blown them away tonight."

After falling behind to a stunning Kondogbia strike in the first-half, long-term transfer target Berbatov then doubled Wenger's woe before Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain appeared to give the hosts a glimmer of hope.

Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

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1/24Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

David Ospina - 6/10

Diffiicult to overly criticise him for Monaco’s opener. Kondogbia’s shot took a wicked deflection that left him with no chance. Pulled off a good save to prevent Berbatov scoring a third.

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Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Hector Bellerin - 5

Not his best game in an Arsenal shirt. When he did go forward he lost possession and Martial, who he was meant to be marking, too often beat the right-back to the byline. Good run and cross

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Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Per Mertesacker - 4

Unfortunate for Kondogbia’s shot to deflect off him before flying past Ospina. Was at fault for Monaco’s second goal. He allowed Martial too much space - the French winger passed to Berbatov who scored. He was very poor all night. His lack of pace constantly exposed.

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Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Laurent Koscielny - 6

Didn’t have to do much to register a better performance than Mertesacker. He was effectively Arsenal’s rock when the German defender wandered into positions he wasn’t quick enough to return from.

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Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Kieran Gibbs - 6

Arsenal’s most dangerous player in the opening minutes of the match. Toure, at right-back for Monaco, found it very difficult to keep up with the rapid left-back.

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Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Francis Coquelin - 6

Alongside Cazorla in the two deep midfield roles again. He was a little exposed when the Spaniard decided to charge forward but the French midfielder never looked troubled. Substituted for Oxlade-Chamberlain in second as Arsenal chased the game.

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Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Santi Cazorla - 6

Took advantage of space in the middle to surge forward from his role of deep-lying playmaker. Stifled in the second half as the opposition read what he was going to do effectively.

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Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Mesut Ozil - 5

Too slow to progress play. The German midfielder was booed by the Arsenal on a night where he really should have done much more to unlock the Monaco defence.

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Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Alexis Sanchez - 6

Struggled to get forward as much as he usually likes. In the first half he seemed frustrated that all of the play was going down the left flank totally cutting him out on the right. Made much more of an impact in the second half as Arsenal chased the game.

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Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Danny Welbeck - 6

Very sharp in the first half but failed to carry out his defensive duties well enough. Indeed it was Welbeck who gave the ball away that led to Monaco’s opener. Caught out a few times in the second half.

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Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Olivier Giroud - 4

Missed a very, very easy chance from close range in the second half. Posed relatively little threat to the Monaco defence. He was subbed for Walcott on 59 minutes.

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Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Best off the bencj: Alex Oxlade Chamberlain - 7

Immediate impact when he came on for Coquelin with 20 minutes to go. It was his late strike that gave his given his side a glimmer of hope going into the second leg.

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Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Danijel Subasic - 7

Outstanding performance from the goalkeeper. His quick thinking helped his side stay in the lead on a number of occasions. Very quick to close down Walcott in second half. Distribution very good too.

Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Almamy Toure - 6

In the first half he found himself overrun by Gibbs but was given some respite in the second half as Arsenal attacked Monaco’s left side.

Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Wallace - 6

A very assured performance. He frustrated Giroud while also organising his defence with precision.

Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Aymen Abdennour - 6

Allowed the Arsenal attack to bypass him too often. He seemed to panic when the French striker got anywhere near the Monaco penalty area.

Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Elderson - 6

Playing at left-back, the Brazilian found himself out of position on so many occasions. For most of the night he was either dallying with the ball too far into the Arsenal half or chasing the heels of Welbeck.

Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Nabil Dirar - 6

Not as effective as Martial on the left but seemed confident when in control of the ball and always looked forward for the out ball.

Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Geoffrey Kondogbia - 8

Monaco’s best player. Along with Moutinho he was involved in almost all of his side’s attacks. It was his strike in the first half that took the lead for Monaco. Physically he is strong and was effective when confronted with challenges from Coquelin.

Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Fabinho - 7

Integral part of the midfield three that also included Moutinho and Kondogbia. He knew his role well and did nothing to endanger his defence behind him.

Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Joao Moutinho - 7

One of Monaco’s brighter players. He regularly dropped deep in midfield to start attacking moves. Assisted Kondogbia for Monaco’s opener.

Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Anthony Martial - 7

Utilised his pace effectively on the left side of the Monaco attack. He took advantage of Mertesacker’s bad positioning to assist Berbatov for his side’s second goal.

Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Dimitar Berbatov - 7

Booed by the Arsenal fans because of his former connection with Spurs, but he was to have the last laugh when he smashed past Ospina in the Arsenal goal to send Monaco 2-0 up

Arsenal 1 Monaco 3 player ratings

Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco - 7

What an impact he made when he replaced Berbatov with 15 minutes remaining. His pace, coupled with quick thinking, gave Gibbs hell at left-back. Ferreira-Carrasco added Monaco's third in stoppage time.

That was quickly extinguished, however, as Arsenal were caught on the counter-attack in the closing moments by Ferreira Carrasco's late strike.

The Gunners now have to travel to France in three weeks' time knowing they need to overturn the deficit and score at least three away goals if they are to progress to the next round.

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