Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard all scored as Arsenal beat Dinamo Zagreb 3-0 on Wednesday and all but sealed a place in the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Rice scored inside the opening two minutes after Havertz’s clever stoppage, and the German’s header in the 66th minute put Arsenal in complete control of the game.
Captain Odegaard added to Arsenal’s clinical display with his third goal in stoppage time, his first goal in 14 games in all competitions.
The win moves Arsenal up to third in the table with 16 points, with the top eight automatically qualifying for the last 16, with only a string of good results in next week’s final group stage to secure Mikel Arteta’s goal The team lost.
Arsenal travel to Girona for their final game, where a draw would be enough to avoid a two-legged play-off tie in February.
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Defeat for Fabio Cannavaro’s Dinamo leaves Dinamo in an elimination position ahead of their final game at home to AC Milan, which they must win to qualify for the play-offs. Chance.
Arsenal lost 2-2 to Aston Villa on Saturday, dealing a heavy blow to their challenge for the Premier League title.
But in the Champions League it was reliably impressive and Rice made it seven with a low shot past Ivan Nevestich after Havertz collected Gabriel Martinelli’s cross. A fifth win is always promising.
This is Rice’s first goal in the Champions League.
Arsenal were occasionally threatened on the counter-attack as Dynamo showed plenty of pace going forward.
Arteta’s side started the second half uneventfully but victory was assured when Martinelli crossed for Havertz and headed past Neveschi.
Rice should have added another when he headed wastefully wide, but Odegaard made no mistake in the closing seconds.
Leo scores, Milan 1-0 Girona
AC Milan’s Rafael Leao celebrates his first goal against Girona. |Image source: Reuters
AC Milan’s Rafael Leao celebrates his first goal against Girona. |Image source: Reuters
Winger Rafael Leao’s first-half goal helped AC Milan beat Girona 1-0 at home in the Champions League on Wednesday, allowing the Italian team to advance to the last 16.
Leo broke the deadlock in the 37th minute with a stunning shot from a low cross from Ismael Bennacer, who won the ball near the midfield line and carried it past Girona. The midfielder created opportunities for the Portuguese winger.
Girona’s Spanish striker Brian Gill thought he had equalized with a beautiful curling shot just before the hour, but his effort was ruled out for offside.
Milan ranks sixth in the standings with 15 points, and the top eight automatically advance to the top 16. Girona, which has just won a single game in the newly promoted league, ranks 31st with 3 points and misses a playoff spot.
