ARSENAL manager Mikel Arteta surprised Gunners superfan Laura Woods with an early Christmas present.
TNT Sports presenter Woods, 37, is a well known Gooner and covered her favourite club’s Champions League clash with Monaco on Wednesday at the Emirates.
Arteta, 42, led the North Londoners to a dominant 3-0 victory over the Ligue 1 giants with a brace by Bukayo Saka and a goal by Kai Havertz.
And the Spanish tactician met with Woods after full-time where he offered her a heartwarming present as she prepares to welcome her first child with Love Island alumni Adam Collard.
The Arsenal boss offered the TV star a baby onesie straight from the club’s official store.
The reporter was left with a big smile on her face as she shared pics on Instagram thanking the Spaniard.
Woods issued the following caption: “This was amazing, thank you.”
And she followed it with: “My club.”
Woods broke the news that she was pregnant back in July.
The journalist managed to keep her pregnancy a secret throughout the entirety of Euro 2024.
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She made the announcement before jetting off to Paris to cover the Olympics.
Woods and Collard broke the news of their engagement back in September.
The couple started dating last year and the reality TV personality got down on one knee on the beach in Cornwall to pop the big question.
BUKAYO SAKA scored twice as Arsenal saw off Monaco 3-0 in the Champions League.
Here is how SunSport’s Lloyd Canfield rated the players’ performances.
DAVID RAYA – 7/10
Rarely troubled throughout the game, but did what he had to do.
Commanding in the box, and pretty good distribution-wise, with only a few mistakes on that front.
THOMAS PARTEY – 6
A mixed bag from Partey tonight, with a few nice passes creating dangerous attacks, and a few going wildly astray.
Wasn’t caused an awful lot of trouble by Monaco’s left side.
WILLIAM SALIBA – 7
Solid at the back as per usual. Always gives you a seven out of ten.
JAKUB KIWIOR – 7
A capable deputy in Gabriel’s absence, sharp on the ball and dependable off of it. Equally as good as Saliba next to him.
MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY – 9
Playing as a left-back, Lewis-Skelly became the latest Hale End academy graduate to make his full Champions League debut vs Monaco.
A sensational bit of play to beat Monaco’s press allowed him to slot an inch-perfect ball into Jesus who set up Saka for Arsenal’s opener.
Given a standing ovation by the home support when he left the pitch after 64 minutes.
DECLAN RICE – 7
Broke up play nicely as he always does, often sliding in to shut down Monaco attacks.
Not as threatening as we have seen him be previously going forward, but that wasn’t his job this evening with Merino alongside him.
MIKEL MERINO – 4
I wasn’t moved.
Arsenal fans might be left slightly disappointed by the Odegaard – Merino – Rice midfield they were excited about. Looked heavy and slow, and got booked.
MARTIN ODEGAARD – 5
Not his usual elegant self in midfield for Arsenal.
Unfortunately let down by his end product tonight, as he missed two huge chances to double their lead either side of half-time.
GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 4
A threat down the left side in the first half, he should’ve had an assist were it not for Arsenal’s number nine.
While he showed some bright sparks, his end product in general was not good enough.
BUKAYO SAKA – 8
In the right place at the right time as he so often is to open the scoring after a great ball across the box by Jesus.
Reacted quickly to a goalkeeper mistake and finished into the far corner for what was his seventh home Champions League goal in seven home Champions League games – clinical.
GABRIEL JESUS – 5
Could’ve had a first-half brace, but for his lack of composure, as he missed TWO huge 1v1 chances early on in the tie.
What he lacked in finishing however, he made up for with a quality assist to set up Saka for the opening goal.
SUBS:
LEANDRO TROSSARD (GABRIEL MARTINELLI, 64) – 5
Much the same story as the man whom he replaced.
JORGINHO (DECLAN RICE, 64) – 6
A calming presence in the Arsenal midfield, helped to settle the ball when he got on it.
JURRIEN TIMBER (MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY, 64) – 6
Replaced the best player on the pitch and Arsenal’s level didn’t drop much.
KAI HAVERTZ (GABRIEL JESUS, 73) – 8
Put the goalkeeper under plenty of pressure to force the mistake for Saka’s second.
Got the faintest of nicks for the Gunners’ third.
ETHAN NWANERI (MARTIN ODEGAARD, 79) – 5
Another good few minutes in the tank for the Arsenal starlet with a very bright future.
Some good touches to get the home fans excited.
