Arsenal on verge of knockout stage as Havertz ensures win over Dinamo Zagreb
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Job done for Mikel Arteta. After the week he’s had, the last thing the Arsenal manager would have wanted was another frantic finale to a home fixture. For much of this contest, after Declan Rice had fired the hosts in front after only 72 seconds, it seemed Arsenal may have to go the distance as they huffed and puffed but couldn’t find a second goal to see off a spirited Dinamo Zagreb side managed by defensive master Fabio Cannavaro.
A collective sigh of relief greeted the second goal from Kai Havertz when it eventually came 20 minutes before the end as Martin Ødegaard added a third late on to virtually assure Arsenal will finish in the top eight and avoid the need for a playoff next month. With a warm weather training camp in Dubai lined up instead after their early exit from the FA Cup, it could do Arteta’s weary squad the world of good in the long run.
While their progress in this competition has been pretty smooth so far, there was a reminder of supporters’ frustrations with Arsenal’s mixed fortunes in the Premier League when it was revealed that a message had been added to a mural outside the ground featuring co-chair Josh Kroenke and former midfielder Santi Cazorla. “Time to splash some cash Josh,” it read. Kroenke was watching on from the stands as, in the continued absence of William Saliba, Arteta handed Oleksandr Zinchenko only his fourth start of the season and recalled Jakub Kiwior to his defence, with Raheem Sterling replacing Leandro Trossard in attack.
