In The Champions League Safe Zone, Arsenal Can Breathe This Season's Schedule

JAKARTA - Arsenal are getting closer to qualifying for the knockout stages of the 2024/2025 Champions League after winning over Dinamo Zagreb 3-0 on Thursday, January 23, 2025, at the Emirates.

The victory brought the Gunners to the third place in the standings with 16 points from seven matches that have been played.

Mathematically, Mikel Arteta's team only needed a draw in the last match of the Champions League group to automatically advance to the last 16, aka securing the top eight.

This slick journey allowed Arsenal to breathe a little bit in the face of this season's tight schedule.

As is known, the change in the Champions League format made all European teams who were participants exhausted. For the first time, the European club's top tournament presented eight group stage matches for each team.

Unlike the previous format - which was last enforced last season - where there were only six group stage matches.

For Arsenal, taking a point from Girona on January 30, 2025 was enough for them to qualify directly for the knockout stages of the Champions League.

This means that they are protected from the playoffs fighting for the remaining eight tickets for the round of 16.

The Gunners can at least take a break from the Champions League throughout February 2025 to improve the physical condition of the players.

Moreover, they have been eliminated from the FA Cup. So, Arsenal just focused on appearing in the Premier League and Carabao Cup before entering the Champions League again in early March 2025.

"We haven't been informed (about the chance to the knockout phase). I know we are in a very strong position."

"Overall, we finished the job well. We didn't concede a single shot on target, which is a very positive thing again. It shows that this team is completely complete."

"Overall, scoring three goals (against Dinamo Zagreb), winning in the Champions League at home, other clean-sheets at home -- four times in a row -- and making some changes."

"We rotated the players and they responded very well," said Arteta after a win over Dinamo Zagreb, Thursday, January 23, 2025.

Arteta is well aware that a busy schedule makes it difficult for him to mix players. Moreover, fatigue has made his treatment room overcrowded in recent months so that his choices are limited.

If the minimum target for the draw in the last match of the Champions League group is realized, Arteta can recharge the batteries of the players.

"It really helps (last season) and with the schedule we have had over the past three months, you can rest."

"We will rearrange and do a lot of things, as well as rest some people. While some people come back (from injury), that would be great," said Arteta again.

Victory over Dinamo Zagreb extended Arsenal's unbeaten record at home in European tournaments to 15 matches.

The Gunners won thanks to goals from Declan Rice (2'), Kai Haters (66'), and Martin Odegaard (90+1').

Kai Havertz has added his tally of goals this season to 14 goals. Then, Odegaard scored his first goal for Arsenal since November 2024.

Meanwhile, Declan Rice likes the new format of the Champions League even though it does not deny making the schedule very busy.

However, meeting eight different teams in the group stage made Arsenal's level even higher.

"It's really really really great. It's the first time I've tried it. I think everyone is a little confused about how it worked when it was first announced."

"However, playing in this format is really interesting. Playing with a big team, facing different opponents, I really like it," said Declan Rice.

Apart from that, a number of records were set for Arsenal after beating Dinamo Zagreb. While under Arteta's tutelage, the Gunners have scored 500 goals.

Then, Leandro Trossard scored his 100th appearance for Arsenal in that match.