Arsenal vs Dinamo Zagreb Prediction - Champions League

The Champions League returns to the Emirates Stadium, where Arsenal will host Dinamo Zagreb on 22 January 2025 at 20:00. Arsenal, currently 3rd in their group with 13 points, are clear favourites, especially with their home advantage and squad depth. Despite recent draws and a lack of clean sheets, their form (DWLLD) shows resilience.

Dinamo Zagreb, 24th with eight points, have struggled defensively, conceding 2.5 goals per game. Their recent form (WLDDL) suggests they might find it hard to counter Arsenal’s attacking prowess, particularly with the Gunners scoring the most in the final 15 minutes of matches this season.

Expect Arsenal to dominate the game, with a possible clean sheet and over 2.5 goals, as Zagreb’s defensive frailties could prove costly.

Arsenal vs Dinamo Zagreb Prediction & Betting Tip

• Recommended bet: Both teams to score: yes.
• The recommendation has been chosen due to several factors, including Arsenal’s attacking prowess and Dinamo Zagreb’s defensive vulnerabilities, leading to a high likelihood of both teams finding the net.
• Arsenal’s attacking firepower, averaging 1.80 goals in their last 5 games, will likely breach Dinamo Zagreb’s leaky defense.
• Despite Arsenal being clear favourites, their lack of clean sheets in the last 5 games suggests Dinamo Zagreb has a good chance to score.
• Dinamo Zagreb‘s average of 1.00 goals in their last 5 games and Arsenal’s occasional defensive lapses bolster the likelihood of both teams scoring.

Arsenal vs Dinamo Zagreb Odds

Arsenal vs. Dinamo Zagreb Betting Odds
Bet	Odds
Arsenal	1.12
Draw	9.00
Dinamo Zagreb	20.02

Arsenal Team Analysis

Home team	Away team	Result
Arsenal	Aston Villa	2-2 (Draw)
Arsenal	Tottenham	2-1 (Win)
Arsenal	Manchester United	1-1 (Loss, Penalty shoot-out: 3-5)
Arsenal	Newcastle	0-2 (Loss)
Brighton	Arsenal	1-1 (Draw)

Arsenal, currently 3rd in the Champions League standings, have had a mixed bag of results in their last five matches, with one win, two draws, and two losses. They have averaged 1.80 goals per game, showcasing their offensive quality despite missing key attacker Bukayo Saka. However, defensive stability remains an issue, as they haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of their last five games. The Gunners will need to tighten up at the back while continuing to leverage their attacking talents like Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz.

Arsenal Key Players

Arsenal will be relying heavily on their attacking talents and influential midfielders in this critical Champions League clash against Dinamo Zagreb.

Top scorer Bukayo Saka is out with a hamstring injury, so the focus will shift to other key players like Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz, who are expected to carry the scoring load. Martin Ødegaard will be pivotal in midfield, aiming to control the tempo and create chances.

Expected lineup for Arsenal:

• Goalkeeper: David Raya
• Defenders: Thomas Partey, Jurrien Timber, Gabriel Magalhães, Myles Lewis-Skelly
• Midfielders: Martin Ødegaard, Declan Rice, Mikel Merino
• Attackers: Leandro Trossard, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli

Keep an eye on the duel between Martinelli and Dinamo Zagreb’s defensive stalwart, Kevin Theophile-Catherine, which could be a game-changer.

Arsenal Suspensions & Injuries

Arsenal, unfortunately, have a lengthy injury list, which could impact their performance in this crucial Champions League tie against Dinamo Zagreb.

Player	Injury	Expected return
Ben White	Knee injury	Late January 2025
Takehiro Tomiyasu	Knee injury	Late January 2025
Bukayo Saka	Hamstring injury	Late February 2025
Ethan Nwaneri	Muscle injury	Early February 2025
Riccardo Calafiori	Muscle injury	Doubtful
Gabriel Jesus	Cruciate ligament injury	Out for the season
William Saliba	Hamstring injury	Mid February 2025
Jorginho	Knock injury	Doubtful

With key players like Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus out, Arsenal’s attacking options are somewhat limited. Mikel Arteta will need to rely on his squad’s depth to navigate through this match, and the absence of these players could prove challenging against Dinamo Zagreb.

Arsenal Tactics and Formation

Arsenal Tactical Breakdown:

• Formation: 4-3-3
• Key Forward: Kai Havertz
• Midfield Trio: Martin Ødegaard, Declan Rice, Mikel Merino
• Defensive Line: Thomas Partey, Jurrien Timber, Gabriel Magalhães, Myles Lewis-Skelly
• Notable Strategy: Arsenal tends to score most of their goals in the 76-90 and 31-45-minute intervals.

Arsenal will rely on their fluid 4-3-3 formation to control possession and dominate the midfield. With Ødegaard pulling the strings, they look to break down Dinamo Zagreb through intricate passing and high pressing from the flanks. Trossard and Martinelli will provide width and flair, while Havertz, operating as a central figure, is pivotal in linking play and finishing chances. Defensively, the Gunners will look to maintain discipline despite recent struggles in keeping clean sheets.

Dinamo Zagreb Team Analysis

Dinamo Zagreb’s recent form has been quite inconsistent, with their last five matches yielding one win, two draws, and two losses. This mixed bag of results is reflected in their WLDDL record. Although they managed to win against NK Varaždin, their overall performance has been underwhelming, and they have struggled to maintain clean sheets, achieving just one in their last five matches. On average, they score 1.00 goal per game, which they need to improve upon if they hope to upset Arsenal.

Home team	Away team	Result
Dinamo Zagreb	NK Varaždin	3-2 (Win)
NK Lokomotiva	Dinamo Zagreb	3-1 (Loss)
Dinamo Zagreb	Celtic	0-0 (Draw)
Dinamo Zagreb	Slaven	1-1 (Draw)
Hajduk Split	Dinamo Zagreb	1-0 (Loss)

Despite these struggles, the team will look to Sandro Kulenović, their top scorer with three goals, to lead the attack. However, Dinamo Zagreb will need an all-around team effort and improved defensive discipline if they plan to leave the Emirates Stadium with a favorable result.

Other Key Points:

• Dinamo Zagreb averages 2.5 yellow cards per game in this competition.
• They have conceded 2.5 goals per game on average in their last six matches.

Dinamo Zagreb Key Players

Dinamo Zagreb will heavily rely on their star performers to upset Arsenal. Sandro Kulenovic, the team’s top scorer with three goals, will be crucial in leading the attack and finding the back of the net. Alongside him, Nathanael Mbuku in midfield can provide creative sparks, while Raul Torrente and Kevin Theophile-Catherine will be key in defense, especially against Arsenal’s potent attackers. Expected lineup for Dinamo Zagreb:

• Goalkeeper: Daniel Zagorac
• Defenders: Dario Spikic, Stefan Ristovski, Maxime Bernauer, Kevin Theophile-Catherine
• Midfielders: Lukas Kacavenda, Marko Rog, Martin Baturina
• Attackers: Sandro Kulenovic, Arbër Hoxha, Nathanael Mbuku

Keeping an eye on these players could be crucial for how Dinamo Zagreb approaches this tough fixture.

Dinamo Zagreb Suspensions & Injuries

Player	Injury	Expected return
Petar Sucic	Foot injury	Unknown
Josip Misic	Calf Injury	Late January 2025
Bruno Petkovic	Muscle injury	Late January 2025
Samy Mmaee	Unknown	Unknown
Arijan Ademi	Thigh injury	Late January 2025

Dinamo Zagreb Tactics and Formation

Dinamo Zagreb’s Tactical Breakdown:

• Formation: 4-2-3-1
• Key Forward: Sandro Kulenovic
  As Dinamo Zagreb’s top scorer, with three goals this season, Kulenovic will spearhead their attack.
• Midfield Core:
  • Right Central Midfielder: Lukas Kacavenda
  • Central Midfielder: Marko Rog
  • Left Central Midfielder: Martin Baturina
    These players will be crucial in controlling the tempo and supporting both defense and attack.
• Defensive Approach:
  • Right Back: Dario Spikic
  • Left Back: Ronael Pierre-Gabriel
  • Right Center Back: Stefan Ristovski
  • Central Back: Maxime Bernauer
  • Left Center Back: Kevin Theophile-Catherine
• Defensive Strategy:
  With an average of 2.5 goals conceded in 6 matches, their backline faces a stern test against Arsenal’s potent attack.
• Overall Plan:
  Dinamo Zagreb will likely aim to remain compact and organized, looking to utilize quick counter-attacks to catch Arsenal off guard. Arsenal’s tendency to score late (76-90 minutes) may prompt Zagreb to reinforce their defenses as the game progresses.