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Arsenal took a significant step towards securing a spot in the Champions League knockout rounds with a convincing 3-0 victory over Dinamo Zagreb at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.
Goals from Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, and Martin Ødegaard sealed the win for the Gunners, who now require just a point from their final group match against Girona to guarantee automatic qualification.
Rice opened the scoring inside two minutes, drilling a low shot past Ivan Nevistic after Havertz had cushioned a pass to him from a Gabriel Martinelli cross. It was Rice’s first goal in the Champions League.
Arsenal maintained their dominance throughout the first half, without threatening to add to their lead. Dinamo Zagreb started to come into the contest as the half wore on, with 21-year-old Martin Baturina showcasing his talent on the ball.
The visitors’ resistance was eventually broken in the 66th minute when Havertz headed home from a Martinelli cross. The German’s 14th goal of the season extended Arsenal’s lead, and all but sealed the win.
Rice should have added a third ten minutes later, but he contrived to steer Ethan Nwaneri’s centre wide with his head.
Captain Ødegaard sealed the win in the dying embers of the game, turning home from close range after good work from substitute Leandro Trossard.
The victory lifts Arsenal to third in the standings with 16 points, and with the top eight qualifying automatically for the last 16, only an extraordinary sequence of results in next week’s final round of group matches could deny Mikel Arteta’s side a spot in the knockout rounds.
Dinamo Zagreb’s defeat leaves them in the elimination places ahead of their last match at home to AC Milan, which they must win to stand any chance of a playoff.
The win was a welcome boost for Arsenal, who had suffered a setback in their Premier League title challenge with a 2-2 draw against Aston Villa on Saturday. However, they have been extremely reliable in the Champions League, and a fifth win in seven games was always on the cards once Rice had given them the lead.
Dinamo Zagreb were playing under new head coach Fabio Cannavaro for the first time competitively, and had just two friendlies under their belt since December 22 last year. Despite this, they showed glimpses of their talent, particularly through Baturina.
Arsenal’s win sets them up nicely for their final group match against Girona, where a draw will be enough to automatically secure their spot in the knockout rounds.
