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UEFA Champions League - Arsenal VS Dinamo Zagreb Preview
UEFA Champions League - Arsenal VS Dinamo Zagreb
Match Time:23-01-2025 04:00 Thursday (GMT+8)
Football Livescore | Match Prediction & Tips
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Arsenal
There are still many absentees for Arteta ahead of this home game against Dinamo Zagreb. William Saliba missed out on the Aston Villa clash with a muscular problem, and will continue to do so for now. Arteta did stay positive on the prospects of having the Frenchman back before the Manchester City game in early February.
Once again, the Gunners boss could deploy a similar backline as he did at the weekend, although he does have new options to conisder. Arsenal were given a boost by the returns of Riccardo Calafiori and Ethan Nwaneri to complete training, as Arteta could potentially use the former in place of Saliba and put Jurrien Timber back into the right-back slot.
Whether Calafiori is fit to start is the big question, meaning Arteta might rely on Thomas Partey at right back and Timber in Saliba’s spot. Hence, there is every possibility of Myles Lewis-Skelly continuing at left-back. Declan Rice, Mikel Merino and Martin Odegaard are expected to feature in midfield.
With Bukayo Saka still out and Gabriel Jesus suffering an ACL issue, the Gunners continue to have a depleted frontline, and some regulars will again take on the attacking burden. Kai Havertz will lead the line, with Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard on either side. The return of Nwaneri does improve Arsenal’s attacking depth, as the teenager will look to appear on the bench at some stage.
Dinamo Zagreb
Dinamo Zagreb are missing the experienced presence of Bruno Petkovic, who is the only player are for this club to have scored four away goals in one European tournament. Fellow attacker Sandro Kulenovic could reach that milestone if he scored against Arsenal.
Meanwhile, Zagreb also missing the highly-rated Petar Sucic, who may not have overcome his issue to be fit for this trip to north London. Beyond him, only Josip Misic will be missing from action for the Croatian outfit.
Cannavaro could assemble an attacking formation with Nathanael Mbuku, Luka Stojkovic and Marko Pjaca supporting striker Kulenovic. Lukas Kacavenda will partner Marko Rog in the middle of the park. Sadegh Moharrami and Ronael Pierre-Gabriel will be the choices in the full-back roles, as Kevin Theophile-Catherine and Raul Torrente will marshal the central defensive zones for Zagreb.
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; Timber, Gabriel, Kiwior, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice; Sterling, Havertz, Trossard
Dinamo Zagreb possible starting lineup:
Nevistic; Ristovski, Theophile-Catherine, Mmaee, Pierre-Gabriel; Ademi, Stojkovic; Cordoba, Baturina, Pjaca; Kulenovic
Arsenal vs Dinamo Zagreb Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
The two teams have crossed paths four times, with all meetings taking place in the Champions League. They first met in the 2006-07 qualifying campaign and later in the 2015-16 group stage. All meetings have produced conclusive results, with the hosts leading 3-1 in wins.
Arsenal have outscored the visitors 11-10 in six games in the Champions League this season. They have conceded just two goals in these games.
Dinamo Zagreb have two wins in the Champions League this season, with both registered in away games.
Croatian teams are winless in away meetings against English teams in the Champions League.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Dinamo Zagreb
No other team in the Champions League has performed as well at home as Arsenal have since the start of last season, and the Gunners are still yet to concede from open play in the 2024-25 competition. Arteta's men may be going through a sticky patch at the minute, but they will surely take care of business without a fuss on Wednesday evening, as Cannavaro is subjected to a losing start as Dinamo Zagreb boss.
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