Arsenal 3-0 Dinamo Zagreb: Gunners dominate visitors, nearing Champions League knockouts
Arsenal delivered a commanding 3-0 victory over Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday, with goals from Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, and Martin Ødegaard effectively securing their place in the Champions League knockout stage.
Rice opened the scoring just two minutes into the match, converting a clever lay-off from Havertz after Gabriel Martinelli’s cross. The German midfielder doubled Arsenal’s advantage in the 66th minute with a powerful header, while captain Ødegaard sealed the win with a stoppage-time strike—his first goal in 14 appearances across all competitions.
The win propels Arsenal to third in the standings with 16 points. With the top eight teams earning automatic qualification for the round of 16, the Gunners need only a draw in their final group-stage match against Girona to avoid the risk of a playoff. Arsenal are three points clear of the teams in ninth through 13th places, making it highly unlikely for them to miss out unless an extraordinary sequence of results occurs.
Dinamo Zagreb, led by Fabio Cannavaro, remain in the elimination zone. They must secure a victory in their final match against AC Milan to have any chance of reaching the playoffs.
Reflecting on the victory, Rice said:
"It was an important win tonight. It's been a very positive Champions League campaign, so we've got one more to go now, hopefully we can win that as well. What I learnt from last year is that you need to be there or thereabouts at this time of the season, and we are at the minute."
Arsenal’s form in the Champions League has been exceptional, extending their unbeaten run at the Emirates Stadium in UEFA competitions to 15 matches.
Rice’s opener marked his first-ever Champions League goal, a low-driven shot past Dinamo keeper Ivan Nevistić. Despite occasional threats from Dinamo’s counterattacks, the visitors lacked the finishing touch to trouble Arsenal.
In the second half, Arsenal shifted gears, with Martinelli delivering an inch-perfect cross for Havertz to head home Arsenal’s second goal. The Gunners could have extended their lead further when Rice missed a close-range header, but Ødegaard ensured a clinical finish in stoppage time to cap off a dominant performance.
This victory marks Arsenal’s fifth win in seven games of the revamped Champions League format, highlighting their consistency on the European stage. While their Premier League campaign hit a bump with a 2-2 draw against Aston Villa last weekend, Arsenal’s Champions League form remains a source of optimism for fans.
SportsLigue