Report: Arsenal 3-0 Dinamo Zagreb (inc. goals)

Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Kiwior, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Jorginho, Rice, Odegaard, Martinelli, Sterling, Havertz

Subs: Neto, Setford, Tierney, Calafiori, Kacurri, Partey, Merino, Kabia, Butler-Oyedeji, Trossard, Nwaneri

Arsenal jumped back into third in the Champions League group phase after beating Dinamo Zagreb 3-0 on Wednesday, thanks to goals from Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard.

Mikel Arteta made four changes to the side that drew with Aston Villa on Saturday, with Jakub Kiwior, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jorginho and Raheem Sterling all coming into the side.

Myles Lewis-Skelly missed out on the matchday squad altogether after suffering a knock in training, although fellow Hale End graduate Ethan Nwaneri returned to the bench following his muscle injury.

Arsenal started strongly and were ahead with less than two minutes on the clock, through Declan Rice who powered home a brilliantly struck half-volley from close range.

Gabriel Martinelli did well to beat his man and find Kai Havertz in the box, whose cushioned first touch set Rice up perfectly who made no mistake with the finish. 1-0.

The opening stages were all Arsenal and Rice had another sight of goal after being played through by Martin Odegaard, but his shot was blocked by some last ditch Dinamo defending.

Gabriel should have doubled the hosts’ lead after Odegaard hung a well-taken corner to the back post, only to head wide from close range after bullying his marker.

There was a nearly moment for Sterling, who ran onto a Havertz knockdown but found his route to goal blocked at the last moment before Havertz headed another Zinchenko cross over.

With half an hour played, Kiwior had a heart-in-mouth moment when he tried a turn as last man but was caught in possession, but Dinamo couldn’t capitalise before Arsenal got bodies back to defend.

Timber was guilty of overplaying minutes later – this time Kiwior was the one bailing him out – but some overconfidence was creeping into the Gunners’ game having spent most of the first half cruising around.

As the referee blew for half time, this was Arsenal so obviously in second gear but Arteta may have felt frustrated with their lack of attacking impetus, especially having taken the early lead. His side only managed one more shot on target in the 43 minutes after scoring.

However, the second half started slowly with Dinamo looking more comfortable on the ball and Arsenal lacking incision with mistakes creeping into their play. With an hour on the clock, Arteta looked to inject some life into his team with Thomas Partey and Nwaneri replacing Timber and Sterling (who had both been booked).

The second goal did eventually arrive and it came from Havertz, who headed in a brilliant Martinelli cross for his second in as many games. 2-0.

We know Bukayo Saka has mastered those back post crosses, but Martinelli has certainly been adding those to his game in recent months and it certainly paid off there.

With 15 minutes to play, Rice should have netted his second of the game but somehow headed wide from close range after being found by a pinpoint Nwaneri cross. The England midfielder was visibly frustrated with himself for spurning that opportunity.

Odegaard added a welcome third late on, ghosting into the box to score from close range – his first since November. 3-0.

The night was capped with a moment to remember for Nathan Butler-Oyedeji who came on in injury time for his Arsenal first team debut.

Job done for Arteta’s men who need a draw in Spain next week (against Girona) to guarantee a top eight finish and passage straight through to the last 16.