Arsenal stamped their ticket to the last-16 of the Champions League with a convincing 3-0 victory over Dinamo Zagreb, securing their position with one group stage match remaining. A stellar performance from several of their key players, particularly Declan Rice, paved the way for this commendable win at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Declan Rice, making his mark early, opened the scoring just two minutes after the whistle and his goal was fired home from just outside the 18-yard box following brilliant work from Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz. The dynamic Martinelli served as the catalyst for much of the Gunners' attacking play, consistently troubling the Zagreb defense with his pace and skill.
The visitors, who had recently changed managers, were unable to find their feet, coming off the back of what could only be described as a freezing winter break, having not played competitively for almost a month. Arsenal took full advantage of this unfamiliarity, with Rice’s opening goal coming as Mikel Arteta would have wished, establishing immediate dominance.
While the Gunners looked dangerous throughout the first half, they could have doubled their lead well before the break. Multiple missed opportunities highlighted this, including best efforts from both Rice and Martinelli as they aimed to extend their advantage. Despite their best efforts, they headed to the locker room with only the single goal.
Turning to the second half, the home side increased their lead with another goal from Kai Havertz, who headed home following another perfect cross from Martinelli. This was pivotal for Arsenal, affording them valuable breathing room as they sought to control the game from this point onward. With this goal, Havertz not only claimed his 14th of the season but also marked the 500th goal of Arteta’s managerial career.
Despite their advantages, Arsenal's performance wasn't without faults. Rice, once again, had what would have been his second goal of the match firmly within reach but miscalculated his header, squandering the chance to secure more breathing room.
Yet, Arsenal was not done yet. The final flourishes arrived deep in stoppage time when captain Martin Odegaard, standing tall on his 100th Arsenal appearance, made no mistake as he snuck behind the defense to tap home the deflected cross delivered by Leandro Trossard. This emphatic moment added the cherry on top of what had proven to be a fruitful night for the home team.
Reacting to their impressive outing, Rice commented on how their collective responsibility has helped propel them forward. "It's important for the midfielders to arrive, to make those few extra yards. Football is sometimes about these moments; it’s about the whole team contributing," Rice said post-match.
Despite the lopsided scoreline, fans and observers alike noted some defensive lapses by the Gunners, where the Croatian side managed to create rare scoring opportunities, especially when Arsenal turned over possession. The visitors, managed by World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro, failed to register any attempts on target during the first half, exemplifying their lack of clinical edge.
Former England defender Matt Upson, as part of the BBC’s coverage, suggested there are dynamics at play when Arsenal take the lead, particularly how the team sometimes appears to drop off. Nevertheless, the win is undoubtedly significant. With this victory, Arsenal now sits comfortably at third place with 16 points, almost sealing their spot to avoid the dreaded play-off rounds later on.
Next, Arsenal will look to maintain their momentum as they head to Wolves for Premier League action before finishing up their last group match against Girona later this month. The players will be eager to carry forward the positive energy exhibited during the game, especially as they seek to build their Champions League campaign and navigate through the demanding fixture list.
The matchup also marked a noteworthy moment for Nathan Butler-Oyedeji, who made his first-team debut coming on late during the game. His presence on the pitch was celebrated, highlighting the depth of talent within Arsenal's academy. With upcoming fixtures demanding performances like the one against Zagreb, Arsenal’s ability to manage their squad and integrate younger players like Butler-Oyedeji will be pivotal as they continue their ascent this season.