Arsenal vs Dinamo Zagreb match report: Gunners keep Champions League hopes alive with impressive victory

Arsenal staved off the prospect of Thursday night football for at least another fortnight with a performance so dominant it made one wonder how on earth they found themselves on the brink of demotion to the Europa League in the first place.

Having now made sure they cannot finish bottom of the group, the Thursday fate can only be avoided if they win by a margin of two goals or more in Greece on 9 December against Olympiakos. A high-scoring one-goal win (3-2 or more) will also be enough. On the form Arsenal showed last night it is very much possible.

Back in September Arsenal somehow contrived to lose to the Croatian champions in Zagreb but last night, in north London, this was less a contest than an exhibition. The result ceased to be in any doubt once Mesut Özil marked another lustrous performance with a rare headed goal after 29 minutes and only fine goalkeeping, and poor finishing, prevented Dynamo being embarrassed.

As it was, another two goals for Alexis Sanchez were their only reward – though Arsène Wenger did have the bonus of Aaron Ramsey safely coming through the last half-hour.

“We know it will not be easy [in Greece] but we are ready for this kind of game,” said Mathieu Flamini afterwards. Such was their confidence Hector Bellerin added of the knockout stages: “I think we will be a threat when we get our players back. We have a lot of quality, we have a lot of activity up front and we are defending very solidly.”

The equation last night was simple: Arsenal had to win while hoping Bayern Munich did the same against Olympiakos in Bavaria. Wenger and most of the fans soon knew the German part of the deal was done, Bayern, who would eventually win 4-0, were three goals up after 20 minutes.

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The official attendance, at 58,978, claimed the ground was full bar a block of unsold seats in the away corner, but the empty seats around the ground, especially in the upper tier, suggested the real attendance was well below 50,000. This perhaps reflected ticket prices on a school/work night with Christmas approaching rather than disillusionment or a lack of faith.

Those who made it through the north London gridlock and creaking Underground should have seen Arsenal take control of the match within 15 minutes. Joel Campbell, the one obvious beneficiary of Arsenal’s injury crisis, set up Santi Cazorla and Sanchez in short order. But Cazorla managed to sky his shot even higher than his missed penalty at the Hawthorns on Saturday, then Sanchez, seeking to cut back onto his right foot, was closed down.

Campbell was the one unforced change from the team beaten by West Bromwich Albion, the Costa Rican replacing Kieran Gibbs. In addition, Mathieu Flamini returned for Francis Coquelin, the latest visitor to a treatment room that must by now be operating one of those ticket queuing systems used in supermarkets.

Ramsey, who is returning from a hamstring injury, was on the bench. Alongside were five other internationals and the outstanding teenager Jeff Reine-Adelaide, suggesting injury crises are relative, but most of the would-be substitutes were defenders. Wenger’s game-changing options were few.

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That was a concern as the half-hour approached as Dynamo Zagreb, sitting very deep, had begun to look comfortable. Then they made a mistake, they decided to venture out of their half. The visitors had gone forward in rare numbers, sustaining an attack, when Campbell nicked the ball to Cazorla. Initially the Spaniard seemed to have lost his sat nav as he headed for his own corner flag, further drawing Zagreb forward to press. Then he spun around, glided past three opponents, played a one-two with Hector Bellerin, slipped the ball to Özil, and continued advancing. Özil was tackled but Olivier Giroud seized the loose ball and gave it to Cazorla who now released Flamini. He drove across the halfway line before releasing Sanchez. The Chilean cut back on to his right foot and bent a cross into the box where it was met, improbably, by a diving Özil and headed into the corner.

It was a sublime counter-attacking goal, and a very significant one, for it enabled Arsenal to relax, and disheartened Zagreb. This was evident four minutes later when Goncalo Sigali tried to bring the ball out of defence but gave it straight to Nacho Monreal, who burst past him then squared for Sanchez to tap in. As Zagreb collapsed Özil could have had a hat-trick before the break but was twice denied by Eduardo.

The Portuguese goalkeeper was just as busy after the break as Arsenal emerged determined to kill the tie. Cazorla, then Olivier Giroud, were both denied before Arsenal eased back to a more containing approach. This prompted some nerves among the home support which were not eased when Campbell sent a spectacular volley just wide.

There was, though, a cheer when Ramsey arrived, midway through the second period. Finally, one of Wenger’s wounded was back. Giroud came off, with Sanchez moving to central striker. This paid immediate rewards as he darted on to an angled Campbell pass, rounded the keeper, and sealed the deal.