Dinamo Zagreb vs Arsenal preview
The Croatian champions will also be fancying themselves on their return to the Champions League for the first time in two years. They became the first Croatian ‘Invincibles’ after going through their top flight campaign without defeat last term.
They are currently on a 41-match unbeaten run in all competitions, stretching back to last November. They welcome Arsenal after having scored seven goals without reply in their last two games.
Dinamo Zagreb team news
- Manager Zoran Mamic has a clean bill of health among his squad.
Arsenal team news
- Per Mertesacker (illness) returned to training on Tuesday but the German defender may be saved for the London derby at Chelsea on Saturday.
- Tomas Rosicky, Danny Welbeck (both knee) and Jack Wilshere (fractured leg) are all out.
Dinamo Zagreb vs Arsenal prediction
Former Manchester United man Angelo Henriquez could face the Gunners as the striker in a 4-3-3 formation. The Chilean is in fine form, having scored three goals in his last two games.
Henriquez could be flanked by Marko Pjaca and Junior Fernandez, who will probably start as the wide forwards and drop into midfield when defending.
Domagoj Antolic is expected to be the defensive midfielder, with Paulo Machado and Marko Rog helping him to contain Arsenal’s attacking midfielders in the engine room.
Wenger could opt for Walcott in this away game because the English forward will stretch play better than Giroud. In midfield, the Gunners could have familiar faces in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Mesut Ozil floating just behind the centre forward.
Aaron Ramsey could frequently drift infield from the right to support Ozil in working between the lines, while Alexis Sanchez cuts inside from the left flank as usual. Full-backs Hector Bellerin and Nacho Monreal will then exploit the space left out wide by overlapping down the flanks in order to add width to Arsenal’s attacks.
The Gunners will no doubt have superior quality than their hosts and Wenger will expect his charges to dominate possession and control the game. Given Arsenal’s offensive problems this term, they are unlikely to come away with a convincing win.
Score prediction
Dinamo Zagreb 0-1 Arsenal
