Why Declan Rice is ‘so annoyed’ despite comfortable Arsenal win over Dinamo Zagreb
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Declan Rice was left frustrated with himself for a late miss despite Arsenal’s comfortable 3-0 win over DInamo Zagreb in the Champions League on Wednesday night. It was a good night for the Gunners as they moved up to third in the Champions League table with just one game to play.
![[Arsenal FC v GNK Dinamo - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD7]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GettyImages-2195382955.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
It means that just a point at Girona in their final group stage game will secure them a top eight spot and passage straight into the last 16. Rice opened the scoring after just two minutes against the Croatian side, with Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard also finding the back of the net, but it was a missed chance that lingered with the England midfielder after the game.
![[Arsenal FC v GNK Dinamo - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD7]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GettyImages-2195345581.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Ethan Nwaneri swung in a cross from the right, picking out the 26-year-old perfectly but he got his header all wrong from close range and it looped wide. ‘I’m so annoyed, honestly, because I had the same position against Man Utd in the cup and I missed and then the same there,’ Rice told TNT Sports.
‘So I’m getting in the right positions when I play, obviously scored a good goal in the first half but I’m annoyed I didn’t get a second, you know. I’ve got to be a bit more clinical. But to get my first Champions League goal, obviously it has taken me two seasons, but I’m so happy. Hopefully many more to come.’.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta wants more goals from Rice, who has scored just once in the Premier League this season, and expects them to come. ‘The last few games, he had some big chances,’ said the Spaniard. ‘The more consistent he is in those positions, with the quality he has, he will score goals.’.
