Arsenal vs Dinamo Zagreb

With the newly formatted UEFA Champions League league phase inching to a close, Arsenal will look to tighten the noose on automatic knockout qualification when they take on Dinamo Zagreb at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal’s quest to end a two-decade title drought in the Premier League took another hit last weekend as they wasted a two-goal cushion to draw 2-2 against Aston Villa at home. The Gunners’ top-flight form in 2025 has been back and forth (W2, D2), resulting in a six-point deficit on pacesetters Liverpool. Therefore, manager Mikel Arteta may find the upcoming visit of Dinamo Zagreb a welcome distraction, especially considering his men have won their last two Champions League outings via at least a three-goal margin to move a step away from securing automatic knockout qualification. Arsenal’s defensive prowess on home turf has been unparalleled, with the London giants keeping a competition-high seven home clean sheets since the start of last season, including all three this term (W3).

With Arsenal going from strength to strength in North London, visiting Dinamo Zagreb can’t realistically hope to take home vital points and hold onto the final playoff spot in the 36-team table. Just one defeat from their last five Champions League outings (W2, D2) has seen the perennial Croatian champions soar to 24th in the standings, leaving behind even Paris Saint-Germain. Furthermore, after an infamous 9-2 mauling at Bayern Munich in round one, Nenad Bjelica’s charges have won back-to-back away matches at Europe’s top table via multi-goal margins – more than they had in their first 25 road fixtures in the Champions League (W1, D3, L21). However, Dinamo’s dire run of one win from eight competitive games before the winter break (D3, L4) has seen the club sack Bjelica and appoint Fabio Cannavaro as their new chief of staff.