Arsenal produced an impressive performance in their win over Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League, on a night which saw an interesting tactical innovation from Mikel Arteta.
The Gunners cruised to victory courtesy of goals from Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard, and are subsequently on the cusp of securing a place in the top eight of Europe’s most prestigious competitions’ inaugural league phase.
Achieving this will mean that Arteta’s team avoid having to play two additional knockout games amidst a hectic fixture schedule.
Kai Havertz impressed Arsenal fans with an effective showing up front, but he wasn’t the only player to emerge with credit in the bank for their display against the Croatian outfit.
Arteta opted to tweak the role of one particular star, and it certainly paid off.
Mikel Arteta gave Declan Rice more freedom in Arsenal win over Dinamo Zagreb
Just two minutes into the encounter, Gabriel Martinelli cut the ball back to Havertz, who put it on a plate for Rice to thump home the opener.
This was Arsenal’s earliest Champions League goal since Yayo Sanogo netted after two minutes against Borussia Dortmund in 2014.
Rice was annoyed after the Zagreb game, stating that he was frustrated he didn’t add to his tally with some additional chances that he spurned.
However, the fact he got these chances was encouraging, and it was certainly by design.
When Rice is usually deployed as a left eight, he plays a more restricted role, tasked with facilitating the build-up, breaking up transitions and occasionally supporting the attack.
However, in this game, the Englishman was the free man, given the licence to roam into the box and get on the end of chances.
Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jorginho and Odegaard were responsible for the build-up, whilst Martinelli and Raheem Sterling provided the width, leaving Rice with the sole responsibility of supporting Havertz in the box.
| Rice’s Statistics vs Dinamo Zagreb | |
| Minutes Played | 90 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Shots | 4 |
| Expected Goals | 0.66 |
| Chances Created | 1 |
| Touches in the Opposition Box | 5 |
He did so effectively, generating 0.66 expected goals from four shots and finding the back of the net with one of them.
The 26-year-old isn’t associated with scoring goals, but clearly has a knack for doing so when granted the freedom to focus on it.
He ought to have added to his tally, heading a golden opportunity wide from an Ethan Nwaneri cross in the second half.
- READ MORE: Raheem Sterling has Arsenal fans all saying the same thing after his Dinamo Zagreb performance
Mikel Arteta should utilise this tactical ploy with Declan Rice more often
This goal was just the third of the season for Rice, and his first in the Champions League.
His ability to strike the ball cleanly and with power is evidenced by the rare occasions he breaks into dangerous areas and through his set-piece delivery.
Arteta must utilise this skill more frequently and maximise Rice’s goal-scoring capabilities.
| Rice’s club goal-scoring record (all competitions) | |
| Season | Goals |
| 2016/17 | 0 |
| 2017/18 | 0 |
| 2018/19 | 2 |
| 2019/20 | 1 |
| 2020/21 | 2 |
| 2021/22 | 5 |
| 2022/23 | 5 |
| 2023/24 | 7 |
| 2024/25 | 3 |
Odegaard hasn’t scored enough goals this term, although the Norwegian provides creative passing and ball progression on the right of Arsenal’s midfield.
That means the Gunners’ left eight should have more of an onus on developing into a Frank Lampard – a midfielder who consistently arrives late in the box and finds the back of the net.
Throughout every season there is a tactical change that elevates Arsenal’s level and this role for Rice could be it.
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