Mikel Arteta will take Arsenal's easy win - but their cruise through shows flaws in the Champions League format
Share:
Arsenal 3-0 Dinamo Zagreb: It was smooth sailing for Mikel Arteta’s men against overmatched opposition. Arsenal do as much as they can, which means it is close to impossible for anyone else to do enough to prevent their safe passage into the Champions League last eight. Uefa are hoping for what might be a satisfyingly wild night next Wednesday, but some of it does sound a little absurd.
![[Kai Havertz was on the scoresheet]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/22/22/53/Kai-Havertz.jpeg)
If Arsenal fail to get a point in Girona, all of Bayer Leverkusen, Aston Villa, AS Monaco, Lille, Brest and Feyenoord would have to win by massive margins to have any chance of forcing them into the play-offs. In short, they’re there, as was always expected before this 3-0 victory over a dogged Dinamo Zagreb. The game really became about correcting a few ongoing issues in the team, and the only thing Mikel Arteta could really have had any quibble with was that they could have taken more chances given recent discussion. The manner of the goals - by Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and a first in months for Martin Odegaard - was nevertheless encouraging.
It also fit with their general approach to this inaugural expanded group stage. As strange as it has often seemed, there is the genuine potential for glorious chaos, that has been served by the packed calendar itself. That has created multiple issues at many big clubs, especially in terms of injuries which has fostered an increased unpredictability in the opening stage. Hence the difficulties of Manchester City, who are now actually level with Dinamo Zagreb.
