Arsenal vs Dinamo Zagreb – Match preview and team news

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·22 de janeiro de 2025

Arsenal vs Dinamo Zagreb – Match preview and team news

Arsenal host Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League as the Gunners look to take a step closer to the knockout rounds.

Mikel Arteta’s side have only triumphed once in their last five games after they dropped points from a winning position against Aston Villa.

Vídeos OneFootball

Arteta has confirmed that Ethan Nwaneri and Riccardo Calafiori are available for tonight’s game. William Saliba wasn’t spotted in training but his injury isn’t thought to be serious and he should return this weekend.

🔴 𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛𝘿𝘼𝙔 ⚪️ 🆚 Dinamo Zagreb 🕗 8pm (UK) 🏆 Champions League 🏟 Arsenal Stadium
– quarta-feira, 22 de janeiro de 2025

Ben White, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus remain out with the latter not expected to play again this season.

Tonight will be Fabio Cannavaro’s first game in charge of the Dinamo Zagreb. The former Ballon d’Or winner took charge in December after former manager Nenad Bjelica was relieved of his duties.

The match fitness of Zagreb’s players is an unknown quantity ahead of their first fixture in almost a month. Star striker Bruno Petkovic and promising midfielder Peter Sucic have been absent from their recent friendlies and are doubts for tonight.

Arsenal vs Dinamo Zagreb – Match preview and team news

Form

Arsenal: DLDWD

Arsenal let a two-goal lead slip at the weekend as Aston Villa fought back to claim a point at the Emirates.

Goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz had put the hosts ahead and in control but the Gunners switched off. Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins got the goals for the visitors to ensure the spoils were shared.

Mikel Arteta’s side are now six points off league leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand.

In Europe, the North Londoners are sitting within the automatic round of 16 places. A victory tonight would see them all but guarantee their place in the knockout stages.

Arsenal have only conceded twice in six European games this season. Their successful European exploits include vital wins over PSG and Sporting.

Dinamo Zagreb: LDDLW

Dinamo Zagreb’s hopes of qualifying are realistic as they only sit outside the playoff places on goal difference.

The Croatian outfit have had some contrasting results in the competition this campaign.

They earned their spot in qualification after overcoming Qarabag over two legs.

Dinamo have won two, drawn two and lost two of their European matches. However, their Croatian title defence isn’t going to plan and they trail league leaders Rijeka by seven points heading into the second half of the season.

Zagreb have lifted the last seven HNL titles. Rijeka are the last team other than Zagreb to win the trophy, back in 2017.

Last Meeting: Arsenal 3-0 Dinamo Zagreb, Champions League, 24th November 2015

It’s been almost a decade since these two clubs last met, with Arsenal getting revenge over Dinamo.

Dinamo had beaten the Gunners 2-1 in the Croatian capital earlier in the campaign after Olivier Giroud had been sent off in the first half.

However, this game would go in Arsenal’s favour as they comfortably eased to three points.

The opening goal of the contest was a collector’s item as Mesut Ozil scored a rare header. Alexis Sanchez clipped a searching cross into the middle which was met by the German who stooped low to head past Eduardo.

Arsenal were gifted their second when Leonardo Sigali sloppily presented the ball to Nacho Monreal. The Spaniard drove towards the byline before cutting it back to Sanchez, who had the simple task of tapping into the net.

Arsene Wenger’s players secured the much-needed victory after the interval with the influential Sanchez grabbing his second. Joel Campbell found the Chilean, who may have just strayed offside, with an incisive pass. The former Barcelona forward rounded the goalkeeper before slotting in Arsenal’s third.

The Gunners’ efforts ultimately prove futile as they exited the competition at the round of 16 stage to Barcelona.

Predicted lineups

Arsenal: Raya; Timber, Gabriel, Kiwior, Calafiori; Jorginho, Rice; Sterling, Odegaard, Trossard, Havertz

Dinamo Zagreb: Nevistic; Moharrami, Theophile-Catherine, Torrente, Pierre-Gabriel; Kacavenda, Pavic; Spikic, Stojkovic, Pjaca; Kulenovic.

Who is the referee?

German referee Daniel Siebert will be the match official. Jan Seidel and Rafael Foltyn will assist him while Daniel Schlager will be the fourth official. The VAR will be Christian Dingert and he will be assisted by Bram Van Driessche.