On Wednesday, Arsenal virtually guaranteed their place among the top eight in the Champions League by comprehensively defeating the visiting Dinamo Zagreb 3 - 0. Goals from Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, and Martin Ødegaard sealed the victory.

Just within the opening two minutes, Rice scored following a smart lay - off from Havertz. Then, in the 66th minute, Havertz added another goal with a header, putting Arsenal firmly in control. Captain Ødegaard wrapped things up with a third goal during stoppage time.

The win propelled Arsenal to third place in the standings with 16 points. Given that the top eight teams qualify automatically for the last 16, it would take an extremely unlikely series of results in next week's final round of group matches to prevent Mikel Arteta's side from advancing.

Arsenal travel to Girona for their final game where a draw will be enough to avoid any possibility of being dragged into a two-legged playoff in February.

Defeat for Fabio Cannavaro's Dinamo side left them in the elimination places ahead of their last match at home to AC Milan which they will have to win to stand any chance of a playoff.

"Look it was an important win tonight. It's been a very positive Champions League campaign, so we've got one more to go now, hopefully we can win that as well," Rice told reporters.

"What I learnt from last year is that you need to be there or thereabouts at this time of the season and we are at the minute."

Arsenal's Premier League title challenge suffered a blow when they were held 2-2 by Aston Villa on Saturday.

But they have been extremely reliable in the Champions League and a fifth win in seven games was always on the cards once Rice drilled a low shot past Ivan Nevistic after Havertz had cushioned a pass to him from a Gabriel Martinelli cross.

It was Rice's first goal in the Champions League.

Arsenal were occasionally threatened on the counter-attack as Dinamo showed plenty of pace going forward.

Arteta's side began the second half in lacklustre fashion but once Martinelli crossed for Havertz to plant a header past Nevistic the victory was in the bag.

Rice should have added his second when he headed wastefully wide, but Ødegaard made no mistake late on.