Arsenal 3-0 Dinamo Zagreb: Gunners poised to qualify for Champions League knockout stage after comfortable win
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Arsenal are on course to receive a bye into the Champions League last 16 after a comfortable win over Dinamo Zagreb. Victory at the Emirates Stadium puts Arsenal on 16 points with a game to spare and that should be enough to avoid a play-off and two extra games next month.
With this being a hectic period for the Gunners in terms of the fixture list and an ever-growing injury list, manager Mikel Arteta opted to freshen things up by making four changes to the side that started the draw with Aston Villa at the weekend. Though his hand was forced somewhat with Myles Lewis-Skelly ruled out completely. That meant a start for Oleksandr Zinchenko at left-back with Jakub Kiwior, Jorginho and Raheem Sterling all drafted in too.
The change in midfield allowed Declan Rice to push further up and the decision paid off within two minutes as the England international gave Arsenal a dream start. Picking up the ball inside the area following Kai Havertz’s lay off, Rice finished with aplomb to score his first ever Champions League goal and the Gunners’ quickest in the competition since November 2014.
From there the hosts ought to have increased their lead but Gabriel Magalhaes headed a glorious chance wide, whilst Zinchenko, Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli had efforts blocked. Zagreb carried a threat in attack, particularly through Martin Baturina, and grew in confidence as the half wore on as sloppiness creeped into Arsenal’s game.
