Arsenal 3-0 Dinamo Zagreb: Player ratings as Gunners close on knockout rounds

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90min

·22 Januari 2025

Arsenal 3-0 Dinamo Zagreb: Player ratings as Gunners close on knockout rounds

Goals from Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard earned Arsenal a comfortable 3-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League, putting Mikel Arteta's side on the brink of automatically qualifying for the knockout rounds.

Rice, a former Conference League winner with West Ham United, had not scored in his previous 15 appearances in Europe's premier club competition, but took just two minutes to rattle in a scorching half-volley after Havertz had cushioned down Gabriel Martinelli's drilled cross around 12 yards out.

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The strike settled any nerves that were lingering around the Emirates Stadium after Saturday's clash with Aston Villa, which saw Mikel Arteta's side surrender a two-goal advantage to walk away with just a point.

There were no such mistakes against a Dinamo side being managed for the first time by former Ballon d'Or winner Fabio Cannavaro, with Arsenal in complete control of proceedings without ever really needing to get out of second gear.

It took Arsenal over an hour to find their second goal, with their domination of the ball and territory failing to yield a glut of chances. Havertz was the player for the big occasion once more, drifting to the back post unmarked to rise highest and meet Martinelli's inviting cross.

Odegaard made it three as the game entered stoppage-time, turning home from close range after good work from Leandro Trossard.

The Gunners sit third in the Champions League table, with five wins and a draw registered from their seven games, and they will seal a top-eight finish providing they don't get thumped by Girona on matchday eight, coupled with a host of other results going against them.

Read the full match report from Arsenal 3-0 Dinamo Zagreb here.