Arsenal 3-0 Dinamo Zagreb: Gunners poised to qualify for Champions League knockout stage after comfortable win | OneFootball

Gunners are back up to third in the Champions League table

Arsenal are on course to receive a bye into the Champions League last 16 after a comfortable win over Dinamo Zagreb.

Victory at the Emirates Stadium puts Arsenal on 16 points with a game to spare and that should be enough to avoid a play-off and two extra games next month.

The change in midfield allowed Declan Rice to push further up and the decision paid off within two minutes as the England international gave Arsenal a dream start.

Picking up the ball inside the area following Kai Havertz’s lay off, Rice finished with aplomb to score his first ever Champions League goal and the Gunners’ quickest in the competition since November 2014.

From there the hosts ought to have increased their lead but Gabriel Magalhaes headed a glorious chance wide, whilst Zinchenko, Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli had efforts blocked.

Zagreb carried a threat in attack, particularly through Martin Baturina, and grew in confidence as the half wore on as sloppiness creeped into Arsenal’s game.

The second half began in similar fashion, but the visitors lacked a cutting edge and when Havertz headed home a fantastic cross from Martinelli just after the hour mark, it felt like the Gunners had wrapped up all three points.

Unlike at the weekend against Villa, this 2-0 lead wasn’t allowed to slip, in fact it was increased when Martin Odegaard scored in injury time. The Gunners now head to Girona next week for the conclusion of the league phase knowing a last 16 place is all but secured.