HPK
Gunners Ease to Victory Over Dinamo Zagreb, Secure Champions League Last-16 Spot
Rapid Rice Paces Arsenal Win
Arsenal secured a spot in the last-16 of the Champions League with a routine 3-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb. Declan Rice opened the scoring within two minutes, with Kai Havertz doubling the lead in the second half. Martin Odegaard added a third in stoppage time to seal a comfortable victory.
Rice's Quickfire Opener
Dinamo Zagreb came into the match with a new manager and hadn't played a competitive game in a month. Arsenal took advantage, scoring an early goal through Rice. Martinelli assisted the midfielder, who struck the ball into the net to register his first Champions League goal and Arsenal's fastest in the competition for a decade.
Havertz Heads Home
The second half started slowly, but Martinelli once again came to the fore. On 66 minutes, he crossed the ball into the box, where Havertz headed home to net his 14th goal of the season and the 500th goal of Mikel Arteta's tenure.
Skipper Strikes
In stoppage time, Martin Odegaard grabbed a third goal for Arsenal. On his 100th Arsenal appearance, Leandro Trossard found space on the left and sent in a delivery that was missed by a defender, allowing Odegaard to score his first goal since November.
FACTS AND STATS
- Arsenal have won more home games (8) and kept more home clean sheets (8) in the Champions League than any other team since the start of last season.
- Dinamo Zagreb have lost eight of their last nine European away games against English sides, conceding at least two goals in every defeat.
- Declan Rice's opener after 104 seconds was Arsenal's earliest Champions League goal since 2014.
- Kai Havertz has scored 14 goals in all competitions this season, equaling his tally from last season.
- Dinamo Zagreb failed to register a single shot on target for the first time in a Champions League match since 2016.
- Ethan Nwaneri made his fourth Champions League appearance, becoming one of the youngest players to do so for Arsenal.
- Jakub Kiwior completed all 55 of his passes tonight, becoming one of only a few Arsenal players to do so in a Champions League match while maintaining 100% accuracy.
What's Next
Arsenal will next play Wolves in the Premier League before traveling to Girona for their final Champions League group match on January 29. They will then host Manchester City in the Premier League on February 2.