Arsenal comprehensively beat Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb 3-0 at Emirates Stadium to all but confirm an automatic passage through to the round-of-16 stage of the Champions League.
Mikel Arteta opted to make multiple changes from the side that drew 2-2 with Aston Villa, Oleksandr Zinchenko took over at left-back from Myles Lewis-Skelly. Jakub Kiwior partnered Gabriel in the centre of defence, whilst Jorginho started at the base of the midfield and Raheem Sterling started at right-wing.
Just as the Arsenal manager would have wanted, Arsenal opened the scoring within the first minutes, Kai Havertz touched the ball down to Declan Rice and the Englishman unleashed a powerful volley into the bottom corner. The strike was Arsenal’s record signing’s first ever goal in the UEFA Champions League.
The Gunners controlled the game and saw nearly 75% of the ball, but couldn’t find a second goal in the first half. Gabriel Martinelli hit an effort on target from just outside the Dinamo box however his shot was straight at the goalkeeper.
However, Arsenal would find their second through top scorer Kai Havertz. Despite many negative narratives surrounding the German, he headed in a superb Martinelli cross for his 14th goal of the season in all competitions and ease any potential Gunners nerves in the process.
Declan Rice should have had his second goal of the game soon after, an excellent cross to the back post from substitute Ethan Nwaneri met the head of Rice however he got his header wrong and it went wide of the goal.
Despite Rice not adding to the score, Arsenal did find a third in the closing stages, Martin Odegaard tapped home a deflected cross from close range to put the icing on the cake for Arsenal and score his first open play goal of the season.
The win may not mathimatically confrim a top eight place for Arsenal, but it would take something incredible for Mikel Arteta’s side before they take on Girona in the final matchday of the league phase.
Before the trip to Spain however, Arsenal take on Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.
Player Ratings:
David Raya: 6
Jurrien Timber: 6
Jakub Kiwior: 6
Gabriel: 6
Oleksandr Zinchenko: 7
Jorginho: 7
Declan Rice: 7
Martin Odegaard: 7
Raheem Sterling: 5
Kai Havertz: 7
Gabriel Martinelli: 7