Champions League - Arsenal vs Dynamo Zagreb

After last week's journey up to London for the North London Derby my next to the Emirates Stadium was for the visit of Croatian champions Dynamo Zagreb.

A win was essential for Arsenal to ensure they finish in the top 8 of the new format.

Finishing outside the 8 means two playoff games. Avoiding that is essential.

After a high of beating the Vermin last week, the down of letting a 2-0 lead crumble to 2-2 with Villa, it needed a performance.

We were on top from the first whistle. It was frustrating to end the first half at 1-0. Especially after 11 shots with only 2 on target. 

The Zagreb fans were far more accurate with throwing bottles and other objects at our players taking corners in front of them.

Zagreb came out better in the second half but we simply took what they could muster.

More wasted opportunities with free headers before Havertz finally headed the second. The game was capped off at 3-0 with Ødegaard scoring in added time.

Unless some of the teams from 9th down win by massive scores in the final group games and we lose in Girona, we are safely Top 8. Only Liverpool and Barcelona above us.