A jubilant Mikel Arteta said Arsenal have put themselves in a really strong position to secure automatic qualification for the Champions League last 16 following their 3-0 win against Dinamo Zagreb.
Declan Rice fired the Gunners ahead within two minutes at the Emirates Stadium before Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard completed the victory in the second half.
The result took Arsenal back up to third in the 36-team table with the top eight assured of avoiding a two-legged knockout clash to reach the next phase.
It means the Gunners could even lose their final group fixture against Girona – who have suffered six defeats in their seven games so far – in Spain next week and still be assured of automatic progression.
“I am very happy because this is a massive step, and it has put us in a really strong position before we play the last game in Girona,” said Arteta.
It was a morale-boosting victory for Arsenal, just days after their Premier League tilt suffered a dent when Villa came from two goals down to snatch a point here.
Rice impressed throughout for the home side with his first Champions League strike – which arrived after only 104 seconds – laying the foundations for Arsenal’s comfortable win.
Havertz also secured his second goal in as many matches, and his 14th of the season.
Keeping the UCL momentum strong ?? #COYG pic.twitter.com/6nzJ18UmYS
— Kai Havertz (@kaihavertz29) January 22, 2025
Havertz has faced criticism this season, with Arteta implored by the club’s fans to sign a new striker this month, but the former Chelsea player now has the same number of goals as he managed last term, in 22 fewer matches.
“It is a brilliant stat, and it shows the perspective against the reality,” said Arteta.
There was one sour note for Arsenal with Myles Lewis-Skelly unable to participate with a knee injury. He is a major doubt for Arsenal’s Premier League clash at Wolves on Saturday.
Arteta continued: “I am not sure (he will be available this weekend). He jarred his knee in the game against Villa. He thought he was OK, and he finished the game.
In the opposing dugout, it marked a defeat in Fabio Cannavaro’s first competitive fixture in charge of the Croatian side.
The World Cup winner said: “We conceded a goal after two minutes and it was very tough after that. When you play this kind of team it is not easy. We are talking about a Premier League club.
“Arteta is a really good guy, a professional man, and his philosophy is really good. When you are here for a long time, it means you have the confidence.
“The club and the supporters wants trophies and you need to work hard to achieve this. But it is not easy because the Premier League is massive.”
