Arsenal are set to host Dinamo Zagreb at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday in a pivotal UEFA Champions League clash, with both teams aiming to secure their spot in the tournament’s knockout phase. The Gunners, enjoying an unbeaten home record in this year’s competition, are heavy favorites to emerge victorious, while the Croatian side hopes to pull off a stunning upset under new head coach Fabio Cannavaro.
Match Details
- Fixture: Arsenal vs Dinamo Zagreb
- Competition: UEFA Champions League Group Stage
- Date: Wednesday, 22 January 2025
- Kick-Off Time: 20:00 GMT / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT
- Venue: Emirates Stadium, London, England
- Referee: Daniel Siebert (GER)
- Live Streaming: TNT Sports, Paramount+, DAZN Canada
Arsenal’s Path to the Round of 16
After a string of strong performances, Arsenal are just one win away from guaranteeing their spot in the Champions League Round of 16. A win over Dinamo Zagreb would see the Gunners avoid the treacherous playoff round, securing direct qualification.
Despite recent setbacks, including a 2-2 draw against Aston Villa in their last Premier League outing, Mikel Arteta’s men remain in excellent form at home, winning all three of their Champions League fixtures at the Emirates this season. The absence of star players like Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus due to injuries will test Arsenal’s depth, but their quality across the squad is expected to shine through.
Predicted Arsenal Lineup (4-3-3):
Raya; Timber, Gabriel, Calafiori, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice; Sterling, Havertz, Martinelli.
Dinamo Zagreb’s Hopes of an Upset
Dinamo Zagreb have shown resilience since their humbling 9-2 defeat to Bayern Munich earlier in the campaign. With two wins and two draws in their last five matches, the Croatian giants are still in contention for the knockout stages.
Fabio Cannavaro, the club’s newly appointed head coach and former Ballon d’Or winner, faces a challenging debut against an in-form Arsenal side. The team will also be without their key striker, Bruno Petkovic, who is sidelined with a muscle injury.
Predicted Dinamo Zagreb Lineup (4-2-3-1):
Nevistic; Ristovski, Theophile-Catherine, Mmaee, Pierre-Gabriel; Ademi, Stojkovic; Cordoba, Baturina, Pjaca; Kulenovic.
Key Match Insights and Head-to-Head Record
- Arsenal lead the head-to-head record with three wins from four previous meetings.
- The last encounter between these teams ended in a 3-0 victory for Arsenal in November 2015.
- Dinamo Zagreb have struggled on the road in Europe, winning just one of their last six away matches.
Score Prediction
Arsenal’s unbeaten home record in the Champions League is likely to remain intact. Despite the Gunners missing key players, they possess enough quality to secure a comfortable win. Dinamo’s long winter break and the early stages of Cannavaro’s managerial tenure may also hinder their performance.
Predicted Score: Arsenal 2-0 Dinamo Zagreb
Where to Watch Arsenal vs Dinamo Zagreb
United Kingdom: TNT Sports 2, discovery+
United States: Paramount+, ViX
Canada: DAZN Canada
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