Arsenal all but secured their place in the Champions League round of 16 with a routine win over Dinamo Zagreb.
Goals from Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard were sufficient against a Dinamo side that carried little attacking threat.
Rice fired the Gunners in front after two minutes but Arsenal had to wait until midway through the second half before they made sure of the victory when Havertz nodded in after good work from the impressive Gabriel Martinelli. Odegaard added a third in stoppage time.
Mikel Arteta’s men moved up to third in the revamped Champions League table, three points ahead of the sides occupying the ninth to 13th places and only a miraculous set of results can deny them automatic qualification for the knockout stages.
After squandering a 2-0 lead to Aston Villa at the weekend, Arsenal could be forgiven for being a little hesitant early on but, instead, they came firing out of the blocks and took the lead from their first attack.
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Rice scores early
It was led by Martinelli down the left with his cross cushioned beautifully by Havertz into the path of Rice and the England midfielder lashed home. It was the earliest goal Arsenal have scored in the Champions League in over 10 years.
It was almost 2-0 after 14 minutes when Gabriel met an inswinging corner with a trademark run only for his header to flash past the upright.
There were a few nervy moments towards the end of the half as Arsenal, perhaps suffering from a touch of complacency, were dispossessed by Dinamo’s high press but David Raya was never called into serious action.
And the Gunners ended the opening 45 minutes on the front foot as Odegaard played in Martinelli and his shot was saved by visiting goalkeeper Ivan Nevistic.
The second half continued in a similar vein with Arsenal in charge but lacking any kind of cutting edge.
Redemption for under-fire Havertz
That changed after 66 minutes when Havertz doubled the home side’s advantage. Martinelli was again the architect, cutting in from the left before delivering a superb cross that the Germany international headed home.
Kai Havertz scores Arsenal’s second of the night 🫡
A cracking ball from Gabriel Martinelli 📌
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It was the first Champions League game in which Havertz has scored and assisted and will ease the pressure on the former Chelsea man, who came in for heavy criticism after wasting a host of chances at the weekend.
Rice ought to have added a third but somehow headed substitute Ethan Nwaneri’s cross wide from six yards out.
Odegaard was more clinical in stoppage time, tapping in Leandro Trossard’s deflected cross.
