Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta hinted at a potential sunshine training camp for his squad after their commanding 3-0 victory over Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday. The win, powered by goals from Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, and Martin Odegaard, leaves the Gunners on the cusp of securing a place in the Champions League last 16.
Sitting third in the standings, Arsenal need only a point from their final group-stage match against Girona to guarantee automatic qualification. Even a loss is unlikely to push them into the knockout play-offs due to their superior goal difference over rivals outside the top eight.
“If we earn the right to do that, it would be great,” Arteta said about the prospect of a warm weather break. “It has been a super-busy schedule with a lot of demands on the players. If we can achieve that, it would be fantastic.”
Arsenal’s dominance was evident from the start, with Rice scoring just 106 seconds into the match. Havertz doubled the lead in the 66th minute with a precise header, while Odegaard sealed the victory in stoppage time.
Arteta expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance: “This is a massive step forward. It puts us in a really strong position before we play Girona. We dominated the game, scored three goals, and kept another clean sheet at home. Overall, I’m very happy.”
Rice’s early goal was a testament to Arteta’s encouragement for the midfielder to adopt more attacking positions. Despite scoring only three times this season, Arteta believes Rice has the potential to add more goals to his game. “With the quality he has, he will score goals. The more consistent he is in those positions, the more he’ll contribute,” he added.
Havertz, who has faced criticism and personal challenges, continued his resurgence with his second goal in as many games. Arteta praised the German forward, noting his improved goal-scoring rate: “What does it tell you? It shows the perception against the reality.”
With their fifth win in seven Champions League games, Arsenal are now firmly focused on finishing the group stage strong, ensuring a well-deserved break while others compete in the play-offs.
