With a routine win against Dinamo Zagreb, Arsenal have all but secured their place in the round of 16 of the Champions League.
Goals from Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard were enough against a Dinamo team that had little attacking threat.
Rice gave the Gunners the lead after two minutes, but Arsenal had to wait until midway through the second half before securing victory when Havertz nodded in after good work from the impressive Gabriel Martinelli. Odegaard added a third goal in stoppage time.
Mikel Arteta’s men have moved up to third in the revised Champions League table, three points ahead of the teams placed ninth to 13th, and only a miraculous run of results can earn them automatic qualification for the knockout stages. -o.-Round denied.
After blowing a 2-0 lead against Aston Villa at the weekend, Arsenal could be forgiven for being a little hesitant at the start, but instead they sprung out of the gate and took the lead with their first attack.
Rice scores early
It was led down the left by Martinelli, whose cross was beautifully deflected by Havertz into the path of Rice and the England midfielder shot the ball into the goal. It was the earliest goal Arsenal have scored in the Champions League in over 10 years.
It was almost 2-0 after 14 minutes when Gabriel parried an inward corner with a typical run, but his header flew past the post.
There were a few nervous moments towards the end of the half as Arsenal, perhaps with a hint of complacency, were incapacitated by Dinamo’s high pressing, but David Raya was never called upon for any serious action.
And the Gunners ended the first 45 minutes in the lead when Odegaard played to Martinelli and his shot was parried by visiting goalkeeper Ivan Nevistic.
It was a similar story in the second half, Arsenal had the lead but lacked any penetration.
Compensation for Havertz, who came under fire
That changed after 66 minutes when Havertz doubled the home side’s lead. Martinelli was once again the architect, cutting in from the left before delivering an excellent cross which the German international headed into the goal.
Kai Havertz scores Arsenal’s second goal of the evening 🫡
A cracking ball from Gabriel Martinelli 📌
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/FmmmipkGpp
– Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 22, 2025
It was the first Champions League game in which Havertz scored and assisted and will ease the pressure on the former Chelsea man, who faced heavy criticism after missing numerous chances over the weekend.
Rice should have scored a third, but somehow he headed substitute Ethan Nwaneri’s cross wide from six yards out.
Odegaard acted more deliberately in stoppage time and tapped in Leandro Trossard’s deflected cross.
