Declan Rice’s early strike sets the tone as Arsenal cruises to a 3-0 victory, solidifying their spot at the top of the group.
Arsenal took a significant step toward the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 after an impressive 3-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb at the Emirates Stadium. The victory, secured with a game to spare, puts the Gunners on 16 points, virtually guaranteeing a bye into the next round and sparing them the need for a play-off.
With a packed schedule and an increasing injury list, manager Mikel Arteta shuffled his lineup, making four changes from the team that drew with Aston Villa. Oleksandr Zinchenko returned to left-back, while Jakub Kiwior, Jorginho, and Raheem Sterling were also brought into the starting XI. Myles Lewis-Skelly was sidelined due to injury, further testing Arsenal’s squad depth.
The adjustments paid off almost immediately. Just two minutes into the game, Declan Rice capitalized on Kai Havertz’s deft layoff to score his first-ever Champions League goal. His clinical finish marked Arsenal’s fastest goal in the competition since 2014 and set the tone for a dominant performance.
Despite early momentum, Arsenal missed several opportunities to extend their lead. Gabriel Magalhães sent a header wide, while efforts from Zinchenko, Havertz, and Gabriel Martinelli were thwarted. Dinamo Zagreb showed flashes of promise, particularly through Martin Baturina, but lacked the cutting edge to punish Arsenal’s occasional lapses.
The second half followed a similar pattern until the 62nd minute when Havertz headed home a superb cross from Martinelli to double Arsenal’s advantage. This time, the Gunners ensured there would be no repeat of the late slip-up that cost them against Aston Villa.
Captain Martin Ødegaard added a third goal in stoppage time, sealing a commanding win and leaving Arsenal in an enviable position. They now travel to Girona next week for the final group-stage match, confident of their progression to the knockout phase.
Arteta praised his team’s performance, emphasizing the importance of depth and adaptability during a challenging period. Arsenal fans, meanwhile, can look forward to their team’s continued European journey with optimism.
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