Gabriel Martinelli and Declan Rice celebrate. (Image: Getty)
Arsenal moved up to third in the Champions League table with a comfortable win over Dinamo Zagreb. The Gunners dominated the early stages after Declan Rice hammered them into an early lead inside two minutes, and looked set to dominate the contest.
But ‘s side struggled to assert themselves after their fast-paced start, and it wasn’t until headed home midway through the second half that nerves were settled. Skipper Martin Odegaard then rounded things off with a simple finish in injury time.
And the Spaniard would have been grateful for no fresh injury worries as the side moved to the brink of automatic qualification for the last-16.
Here, Express Sport takes you through how each player performed…
Arsenal player ratings vs DInamo Zagreb (4-3-3)
David Raya: 6
A virtual spectator. Distribution was assured but one of his quietest nights by far this season.
Jurrien Timber: 6
Not afraid to get on the ball but was twice sloppy in possession in the first half – and the second time it could have been costly before he was bailed out by Jakub Kiwior. Replaced on the hour mark.
Jakub Kiwior: 7
Tracked back well to cover Timber’s error but the home defence were rarely under pressure. Looked assured in possession.
Gabriel Magalhaes: 7
Went down holding his leg in the first half and the crowd at the Emirates would have been relieved to see him get up. A solid night otherwise.
Raheem Sterling runs at the away defence. (Image: Getty)
Oleksandr Zinchenko: 8
Arguably his best display in an shirt this season. Took advantage of his side’s early dominance to surge forward and regularly joined the attacks. One lovely show of control to take a long ball down too.
Martin Odegaard: 6
Frequently involved and got on the ball as usual. But lacked his usual creative spark before tapping home in injury time.
Jorginho: 7
Relished the early stages as he regularly released his forwards with some crisp passing. Seemed to fade slightly in the second half.
Declan Rice: 8
A commanding display capped by his thunderous early finish from a Havertz knock-down. Blotted his copybook late on by heading wide from point blank range but as clearly added more threat to his game going forward. Set-piece deliveries caused problems too.
Raheem Sterling: 5
Needs to step up with Saka and Jesus out and the desire and determination was there, regularly running at the Zagreb defence. But hesitant with one shooting chance and just not finding an end product at the moment. Also needlessly booked before coming off after the break.
Don’t miss…
: 8
A lovely cushioned touch allowed Rice to score and created another chance for Sterling. Looked like his finishing would again plague him with a shot cleared off the line before clinically heading home Martinelli’s cross.
Gabriel Martinelli: 9
An electric display. His lightning run and cross led to the first goal, and delivered the ball in for Havertz to score. His pace tormented the Zagreb defence worked hard to track back too. Only a goal missing from his display.
SUBS:
Thomas Partey (for Timber, 59) 6 Little impact after coming on at right-back.
Ethan Nwaneri (for Sterling, 59) 8 Impressive cameo. His superb cross should have seen Rice make it 3-0 and in his area to make a vital intervention late on.
(for Zinchenko, 74) 6 His final appearance for the club? If so, it was a trouble-free one after coming on at 2-0.
Leandro Trossard (for Havertz, 74) 7 Created the final goal with his low cross.