Arsenal 3–0 GNK Zagreb
by Layth Yousif
at Ashburton Grove

GOALS from Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and a late third from Martin Odegaard eased dominant Arsenal to the edge of qualification for the knock-out stages of the Champions League, during a routine 3-0 victory over Dinamo Zagreb in north London on Wednesday evening. 

It was perhaps no surprise the home side went ahead after only 120 seconds, given the fact that Fabio Cannavaro’s side hadn’t played in a month due to Croatia’s winter break, and that it was the legendary 2006 Italian World Cup winners first game in charge of the Balkan giants. 

That the goal came from Rice was perhaps more of a curiosity, as it was the Arsenal midfielder’s first Champions League strike in red and white and his first in eight matches. The popular England midfielder now looking fresher than he has done this season, after practically 12 months playing football in service of club and country. 

Speaking after the match, Rice said: “It was an important win tonight. It’s been a very positive Champions League campaign.”

It was certainly no shock that course and distance winner Kai Havertz – goalscorer in the 2021 final win for Chelsea – provided the assist for Rice to fire emphatically past Dinamo keeper Ivan Nevistic.

For it was also Havertz who perfectly teed-up Raheem Sterling in the box, but the winger was denied by a last-gasp intervention, prior to the striker heading wide moments later, as Arsenal displayed their dominance in their hunt for automatic qualification. And, whisper it, a few days’ much needed R&R in the form of a training camp somewhere hot and autocratic, in lieu of two gruelling, and completely unnecessary play-off matches next month.

Gabi Martinelli tested Nevistic shortly before the interval, perhaps still smarting from his thrilling driving run at the heart of the Zagreb backline that had been thwarted at the very last by Samy Mmaee’s block, just as the Gunners attacker was gearing up to shoot, following his thrilling 50-yard sprint with the ball.

It was the lively Martinelli who was to provide the cross for Havertz to nod home on 66 minutes to make the scoreline 2-0, for the player’s 14th goal of the season – already equalling last term’s total tally - as fans and boffins everywhere attempted to work out the myriad permutations arising from this tournament’s new format.

The conclusion being a win against struggling Girona in Spain this time next week would emphatically secure qualification for the last 16. 

Reflecting afterwards, a satisfied Rice added: "We’ve got one more game to go now, hopefully we can win that as well.”

As strains of “he’s one of our own,’ rang around the stadium aimed at substitute Ethan Nwaneri, the talented 17-year-old crossed into space in the box for Rice, to surely head home, but the former West Ham European Conference League winner inexplicably guided the ball the wrong side of the far post, much to his frustration.   

As the clock ticked down, there was still time for Odegaard to slot home from close range to make it 3-0, for the captain’s first goal in 14 matches, and only his second of a frustrating season stalled by injury. 

Afterwards, Zagreb’s iconic new boss Cannavaro, looking as smooth, dashing and intimidating as he did when one of the finest defenders ever to play the game, said generously: “Arsenal are a good team.”