Arsenal's Commanding Champions League Victory

We all-but stamped our ticket to the last-16 of the Champions League with a game to spare courtesy of a routine win over Dinamo Zagreb. The match, played at the Emirates Stadium, showcased Arsenal's dominance from the very first whistle to the final agonizing seconds.

A Dream Start and Arsenal's Clinical Finishing

Dinamo went into this game with a new manager in Fabio Cannavaro and not having played a competitive game for a month due to the Croatian league’s winter break. We caught them cold after just 104 seconds by surging into a quickfire lead. Martinelli attacked the left side and teed up Havertz in the area, who laid the ball off perfectly into the path of Rice who thundered a half-volley into the net to register his first Champions League goal, and our fastest in the competition for a decade. Declan Rice’s opener after 104 seconds was our earliest Champions League goal since November 2014 – Yaya Sanogo after 72 seconds against Borussia Dortmund. It was the start Mikel Arteta would have dreamed of, but the floodgates wouldn’t open in the opening 45 minutes, despite our best efforts. Rice was only thwarted from sending another shot goalwards from a dangerous position by a fine sliding block by Maxine Bernauer, while Gabriel - who played once for Dinamo Zagreb on loan from Lille back in 2018 - rose highest to meet an Odegaard corner but nodded it inches wide of the target. No Croatian team has ever won away from home against an English side in the European Cup or Champions League, and Dinamo never looked like bucking that trend. The visitors stifled us by trying to slow the game down as much as possible, and offered little threat before half-time, failing to register a shot on target in the first half for the third straight Champions League game. But Martinelli was providing plenty of lively moments to counteract that, and he had our next attempt on 40 minutes when he took the ball off Odegaard’s toes to blast goalwards but the ball sailed straight to Ivan Nevistic in the Dinamo goal who escaped into the changing rooms still in with a chance of a result.

A Second-Half Surge and Goal-Scoring Prowess

The second half began slowly, with little for either side’s supporters to cheer. Havertz knocked an effort past Nevistic but it nudged off the goalline by Raul Torrente, however the assistant referee’s flag was up, but the action needing a spark, Martinelli once again came to the fore. On 66 minutes he picked up possession on the touchline and drove infield before whipping a teaser of a cross into the box, where Havertz managed to get between the defenders and plant a header into the net to net his 14th goal of the season, matching his total from last term, and also register the 500th goal of Arteta’s tenure. Kai Havertz has scored 14 goals in all competitions this season (30 games), as many as he managed in 51 appearances last season. Tonight was the first time the German has both scored and assisted in the same Champions League match. Rice should have made it 501 10 minutes later when the returning Ethan Nwaneri clipped a fine ball into the box for the England midfielder to run onto, but with only the keeper to knock it past, he got his header all wrong and the ball squirmed well wide. But in stoppage-time, we found one more final flourish by grabbing a third. On his 100th Arsenal appearance, Leandro Trossard was found in space on the left, and he sent in a delivery that was missed by a defender, and Odegaard was on hand to send it into the net and grab his first goal since November. There was another nice moment at the end of the game as Nathan Butler-Oyedeji came on for the final few minutes to make his Arsenal debut, on a night where we cruised to victory - and almost certainly into the last-16.

Arsenal's Unbeatable Home Record and Dinamo Zagreb's European Woes

Since the start of last season, no team has won more home games (8) or kept more home clean sheets (8) in the Champions League than us. Dinamo Zagreb have lost eight of their last nine European away games against English sides (W1), conceding at least two goals in every defeat. Dinamo Zagreb failed to register a single shot on target in a Champions League match for the first time since October 2016 (vs Sevilla). Ethan Nwaneri made his fourth Champions League appearance – only Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott (5 each) have made more for us before turning 18. Jakub Kiwior completed all 55 of his passes tonight – the only Arsenal players on record (since 2003/04) with more passes in a Champions League match while maintaining a 100% accuracy are Nacho Monreal (68 v Anderlecht in November 2014) and Laurent Koscielny (65 v Borussia Dortmund in October 2013). After five straight home matches, we head to Wolves on Saturday for Premier League action, before we pack our bags for Spain and our final group against Girona on Wednesday, January 29. We're then back in league action on Sunday, February 2 when Manchester City are the next visitors to Emirates Stadium. This victory firmly establishes Arsenal's position as a force to be reckoned with in this year's Champions League competition.

A Night to Remember: Looking Ahead

The resounding victory against Dinamo Zagreb was more than just three points; it was a statement of intent. The team's performance, marked by Declan Rice's early goal and subsequent goals by Havertz and Odegaard, highlighted Arsenal's attacking prowess and defensive solidity. This emphatic win not only secures a place in the last-16 but also boosts team morale and confidence for the challenges ahead. The upcoming matches against Wolves and Girona will be crucial in maintaining this momentum and shaping the rest of Arsenal’s season. The team's focus will now undoubtedly shift to these important fixtures, with the aim of continuing their successful run. The road ahead is certainly demanding, but with the current form and the depth of talent within the squad, Arsenal is well-positioned to achieve its goals. The future looks bright for Arsenal, and fans eagerly await the next chapter in this exciting journey. The team's dedication and determination are palpable, and with the unwavering support of their fans, there’s no limit to what Arsenal can achieve this season.