Arsenal played against Dinamo Zagreb on January 22, 2025. The match was important for Arsenal as they were aiming to qualify for the last-16 of the Champions League. The game took place at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal won the match 3-0. This victory put them in a strong position to secure their place in the knockout stages. The goals came from Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, and Martin Odegaard. Rice scored the opening goal just two minutes into the game. Havertz added a second in the 65th minute, and Odegaard sealed the win in stoppage time with a third.
The match started with a fast-paced goal from Declan Rice. In the second minute, Martinelli set up Rice with a perfect pass. Rice then struck a powerful shot into the net. It was his first Champions League goal and the fastest goal Arsenal had scored in the competition in ten years. This early goal gave Arsenal a great start. However, despite several attempts, the team could not add to the score in the first half. Rice had a chance to score again, but his shot was blocked by a defender. Gabriel also had a chance, but his header went just wide.
Dinamo Zagreb, under their new manager Fabio Cannavaro, struggled to create chances. They had not played a competitive match in a month due to the Croatian league’s winter break. As a result, they were caught off guard by Arsenal’s quick start. Throughout the first half, Dinamo Zagreb had no shots on target. They tried to slow down the game to disrupt Arsenal’s rhythm, but their efforts were unsuccessful. Arsenal dominated possession, and Martinelli was a constant threat. Just before half-time, Martinelli had a chance to score, but his shot was saved by the Dinamo Zagreb goalkeeper.
The second half began slowly. Neither team created many clear chances early on. However, the breakthrough came in the 65th minute when Kai Havertz scored. Martinelli delivered a brilliant cross into the box. Havertz managed to get between the defenders and headed the ball into the net. It was Havertz’s 14th goal of the season, matching his total from the previous year. It was also a milestone for manager Mikel Arteta as it was the 500th goal of his tenure at the club.
After Havertz’s goal, Arsenal continued to press for more. Declan Rice had another opportunity to score when he was played in on goal by a perfect pass from Ethan Nwaneri. However, Rice missed the chance as his header went wide of the target. Despite this miss, Arsenal kept control of the game and never looked in danger of losing their lead.
In stoppage time, Arsenal added a third goal to seal the win. Leandro Trossard, who was playing in his 100th match for Arsenal, made a great run down the left wing. He crossed the ball into the box, and a Dinamo Zagreb defender missed the ball. Martin Odegaard was in the right place to finish the cross and score Arsenal’s third goal. It was Odegaard’s first goal since November. The match ended with Arsenal cruising to a 3-0 victory.
This win was important for Arsenal as it brought them closer to securing a spot in the Champions League last-16. With 16 points from their group matches, Arsenal remained in third place. They needed to avoid a heavy defeat to Girona in their final group match and hope that other results went their way to ensure qualification. Arsenal was in a strong position, but there was still work to be done.
The match against Dinamo Zagreb also saw some notable individual performances. Kai Havertz continued his good form with another goal. His 14 goals in all competitions this season showed his importance to the team. Martinelli was also excellent, providing assists and creating chances throughout the game. Rice’s early goal set the tone for the match, and he was involved in several other attacking moves. Odegaard’s late goal capped off a good performance for him as well.
Defensively, Arsenal were solid. Dinamo Zagreb struggled to create any significant chances, and Arsenal’s defense was able to contain them easily. Gabriel and Ben White were strong at the back, while goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale was barely tested. Arsenal’s clean sheet in the match was another positive.
After the match, Mikel Arteta spoke about the importance of the victory. He was pleased with the team’s performance but stressed that there was still work to do to secure their place in the last-16. Arteta praised the team’s focus and the quality of the goals. He also highlighted the good individual performances, including from Havertz, Martinelli, and Rice. Arteta emphasized that the team needed to stay focused in their final group match against Girona to make sure they finished in a strong position.
There were also some key stats from the match that highlighted Arsenal’s dominance. Since the start of last season, no team had won more home games or kept more home clean sheets in the Champions League than Arsenal. Dinamo Zagreb had a poor record in England, having lost eight of their last nine away games in Europe against English teams. Rice’s goal in the second minute was the fastest Champions League goal for Arsenal in ten years, and Havertz’s goal was the 500th goal of Arteta’s managerial career.
The match also saw some young players make an impact. Ethan Nwaneri, at just 16 years old, played a key role in setting up Rice for a potential second goal. He became one of the youngest players to appear in the Champions League for Arsenal. Jakub Kiwior also impressed with his passing accuracy, completing all 55 of his passes during the match. His performance was one of the best in terms of pass accuracy for an Arsenal player in a Champions League match.
The victory over Dinamo Zagreb was a comfortable one for Arsenal. The team controlled the game from start to finish and never looked in danger of losing. The three goals were well-deserved, and the team could be pleased with their performance. The win also meant that Arsenal were close to securing their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League. With only one more group match to go, Arsenal would need to focus on getting a positive result against Girona to confirm their qualification.
Looking ahead, Arsenal had a busy schedule. They were set to play Wolves in the Premier League next, followed by the final Champions League group match against Girona. After that, they would face Manchester City in the league. These matches would be crucial for Arsenal as they looked to continue their strong form in both domestic and European competitions.
Overall, the 3-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb was a great result for Arsenal. The team showed quality in both attack and defense, and the victory put them in a strong position to qualify for the Champions League knockout stages. The players gave a good account of themselves, and the fans would have been pleased with the performance. The next few weeks would be important for Arsenal as they aimed to continue their good form and push for more success this season.
