Arsenal vs Dinamo Zagreb: Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips

Arsenal have an excellent home record this season, only losing once in 90 minutes in all competitions this season and the Gunners come into this game unbeaten in their previous three matches. Dinamo Zagreb are also unbeaten in three, but the level of competition is significantly worse than the level Arsenal have faced in recent weeks.

The visitors are also winless in their last two away matches. Neither side has kept a clean sheet in their previous five games, with both teams scoring in five of the last six involving Arsenal and the last five involving Dinamo Zagreb – Arsenal 3-1 Dinamo Zagreb

Arsenal host Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League looking for a crucial three points to maintain their position towards the top of the table.

Date: 22/01/25

Kick-off time: 20:00

Venue: Emirates Stadium

Their title race has taken a bit of a stumble recently with a draw against Aston Villa, but Arsenal’s Champions League campaign remains strong. The Gunners are third in the group phase, one point clear of 9th place Dortmund, who occupy the top playoff place. A victory would put them in a very strong position to advance automatically heading into the final game, and they should be confident in achieving this at home.

Dinamo Zagreb have not played a competitive game since December 22nd, with a pair of friendlies their only action in recent weeks. They sit in 24th, the final playoff place available. Anything but a win would likely see them fall and face a must win game in their last fixture. Zagreb are winless in their last two European games, but this followed two consecutive victories against Slovan Bratislava and RB Salzburg.

The hosts should create plenty of chances against a defence which has conceded 15 goals in six games. However, nine of these came in their opener away at Bayern Munich where they lost 9-2. They have kept two clean sheets since, including against Celtic. Mikel Arteta’s side will be reeling from the disappointment of dropping points in the league, and will look to respond strongly here. They remain without top European scorer Bukayo Saka, but Kai Havertz is closely behind with three strikes. He scored at the weekend so comes into this with some momentum.

Zagreb could trouble an Arsenal backline which has not kept a clean sheet in their last six games in all competitions. The Croatians have scored 10 goals in Europe so far this season, Sandro Kulenovic contributing the most with three. They have done well on their travels with eight goals away from home. Their only two wins were also on the road.

There have only ever been four meetings between these two sides. All have come in the Champions League, the first pair of games coming in the group stages in 2006, which were both won by Arsenal. The most recent fixtures occurred in the 2015-16 group stages, with Dinamo Zagreb winning their home tie. The Gunners won 3-0 at the Emirates, with goals from Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez.

Arsenal vs Dinamo Zagreb will be available to watch on TNT Sports 2.

Arsenal

Ricardo Calafiori will be assessed ahead of this game, but William Saliba may have a more serious issue that will be monitored. Ethan Nwaneri is ruled out until the beginning of next month, while Bukayo Saka and Ben White remain out long-term. Mikel Arteta was dealt a huge blow with the ACL injury suffered by Gabriel Jesus which will keep him out for the season.

Dinamo Zagreb

Dinamo Zagreb have a mostly fit squad available, though will be without Josip Misic and Bruno Petkovic. Petar Sucic also remains out.

Arsenal:

In their last five games, Arsenal have won one, lost one and drawn three. It has been an inconsistent stretch for the Gunners and this continued with a 2-2 draw at home to Aston Villa. They took a 2-0 lead through Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz, but were pegged back in the second half by Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins.

This followed a huge 2-1 victory in the North London derby in midweek. Tottenham took the lead through Heung-min Son, but a Dominic Solanke own goal and Leandro Trossard strike turned it around before the break. FA Cup action saw them eliminated in the third round by Manchester United. The game ended 1-1 after 90 minutes and extra-time, before they were defeated on penalties.

Arsenal face an uphill battle in the Carabao Cup after falling to a 2-0 defeat at home to Newcastle in the semi-final first leg. Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon scored either side of half-time. The first game of this run was a 1-1 draw away at Brighton. Ethan Nwaneri gave the visitors the lead, but a controversial penalty converted by Joao Pedro ensured the points were shared.

Dinamo Zagreb:

In their last five games, Dinamo Zagreb have won two, drawn two and lost one. It has been a solid stretch for Zagreb as they prepare for their trip to Arsenal. This run started with Champions League action, where they held Celtic to a goalless draw at home. Chances were limited in this game with only three shots on target between the pair as neither side could make a breakthrough.

They fell to a 3-1 defeat in the league away at NK Lokomotiva. Zagreb’s Marko Pjaca cancelled out an earlier opener, but the hosts scored twice more before the break to seal the three points. A return to winning ways followed as they beat Varazdin 3-2 at home. Lukas Kacavenda and an own goal put them 2-0 up at half-time. The visitors pulled one back before Pjaca gave his side some daylight. A stoppage time consolation made things interesting but Zagreb were able to hold on.

A trip to Lech Poznan resulted in another victory as they won 3-1 in a friendly. Last time out, they took part in another friendly, this time at Jagiellonia Bialystok. The game ended in a 1-1 draw.

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