Arsenal is just a point short of automatic qualification for the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League after a well-earned 3-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb. Goals courtesy of Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, and Martin Odegaard proved enough at the Emirates Stadium, but there was still room for a star turn from Gabriel Martinelli.
A fast start was followed by a lengthy lull against stubborn visitors, but Arsenal eventually overwhelmed Dinamo on an important night in Europe’s premier club competition. Three goals and as many points mean the Gunners can draw in Girona next week to secure a top-eight finish and an easy route to the knockout phase, per Goal’s Charles Watts.
Mikel Arteta can thank Rice for dragging Arsenal to the brink of qualification. The £105-million man was relentlessly making runs into the box, routinely giving the hosts a man over in the vital area of the pitch.
Martinelli would have been grateful for Rice’s industry because it meant the Brazilian wide man’s appetite for delivering crosses didn’t go unrewarded. Rice made sure there was some end product, but he got ample support from Havertz, who delivered a vintage performance befitting a true No. 9.
Here’s how Arsenal’s three standout players ran the show on home soil.
