Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised the performance of the fringe players in the 3-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night, Afrosport reports.
Goals from Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard put the Gunners on the brink of automatic qualification into the round of 16.
Arteta made some tweaks to his starting XI, utilising players like Raheem Sterling, Jorginho, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jakub Kiwior, who have had limited game time this season, while the likes of Nathan Butler-Oyedeji and Kieran Tierney came off the bench.
“I’m very happy because it’s job almost done. We have another game and probably need something to achieve what we want,” the Spaniard said after the game.
“It was good. We had some big chances that we didn’t score. In the second half, we lost some control and were a bit leggy, that was the feeling that I had as well. Overall, we got the job done and well done. We didn’t concede a shot on target which is really positive again. It shows that the team is really well-rounded.
“Overall, scoring three goals, winning in the Champions League at home, another clean sheet at home – four in a row – and having made some changes as well. We rotated players that didn’t play that many minutes and they responded really well. Overall, I think it was a positive night.”
The difference makers ✊ pic.twitter.com/D2CkpzBfGL
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 22, 2025
Ethan Nwaneri made his return to the team after missing the last five games due to injury, which was great news for Arteta.
“It’s great to have him. He’s been training really well the last few days. He’s adapting to the position and you can tell straight away the threat that he generates,” he stated.
“How he commits people on the ball that he can put in these areas as well. So really good to have him back. We need options, we need threat, we need competition there, so it’s great to have him.”
Arsenal will finish their league phase campaign with a trip to Girona next Wednesday.
