Arsenal vs Dinamo Zagreb Prediction: Another clean sheet at the Emirates

Arsenal will be disappointed that they let a two-goal lead slip at home against Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday, but they have a chance to make amends at the Emirates as they welcome Dinamo Zagreb in the Uefa Champions League on Wednesday (20:00, TNT Sports 2).

The Gunners have won four of their six matches to date, while the visitors have won two of their three away trips thus far. Read on for my Arsenal vs Dinamo Zagreb prediction, featuring the latest match odds and team news.

Arsenal vs Dinamo Zagreb Odds

Arsenal have won all three of their home games in Europe this season, and are heavy favourites to win here at 1/9. You will find better value in backing the home team to win to nil at 8/13 (which carries an implied probability of 61.9%), as they have kept clean sheets in each of those victories.

Dinamo Zagreb are 22/1 to pull off an upset, and the Croatian outfit have won their last two away trips in the Champions League. Arsenal's last two home games have ended in a stalemate (with their FA Cup meeting with Manchester United going to extra time), and the draw is on offer at 8/1 on Wednesday.

The visitors have blanked in their previous two UCL appearances and Arsenal are yet to concede at the Emirates in this competition. The Gunners are 8/15 (65.2%) to keep a clean sheet.

Football Odds

Team News

Arsenal have suffered a big defensive blow as William Saliba is out with a hamstring injury, and the Frenchman is set to be out of action until the beginning of next month, and they will be praying he can return to face Manchester City on February 2.

Jurrien Timber filled in for him alongside Gabriel Magalhaes against Villa, and this partnership could continue against Zagreb. Gabriel Jesus (knee), Bukayo Saka (hamstring), Ben White (knee), Ethan Nwaneri (muscle) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) are the other Arsenal players confined to the treatment room.

Defender Riccardo Calafiori faces a race against time to overcome a muscular issue to be included in the matchday squad on Wednesday. Jakub Kiwior could come into the defence here after Thomas Partey, who was the right-back at the weekend, made the error which led to Villa's equaliser through Ollie Watkins.

With a lack of attacking options for rotation, Kai Havertz is expected to start again, while one of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard will be expected to play if Raheem Sterling is deployed on one of the flanks.

Experienced forward Bruno Petkovic is expected to be absent for Dinamo Zagreb with an abductor issue. The Croatian is the only player in Modri's history to score in at least four away games in Europe across the same campaign (Europa League 2020-21), but fellow attacker Sandro Kulenovic can match that feat with a goal in N7.

New boss Fabio Cannavaro is also set to be without the services of key midfielder Peter Sucic on Wednesday, who has been struggling with an unspecified issue.

Arsenal to win to nil @ 8/13

Arsenal will be frustrated with how they threw two points away on Saturday, and I suspect they will be eager to take out their frustrations against Zagreb. They know that a win here will have them on the cusp of the round of 16 and their record at the Emirates in this competition sets them up nicely heading into Wednesday.

I've already mentioned how the Gunners have won and kept clean sheets in their three matches here already, and this trend looks worth backing to continue against the Croatian visitors.

Cannavaro's side have blanked in their previous two outings in the Champions League and it hard to see them troubling a team that have conceded just two goals in Europe from their opening six contests.

Mikel Arteta has several injuries to worry about right now, but he still has enough quality available for them to record another victory on home soil without conceding.

Kai Havertz anytime goalscorer @ 1/1

It's clear that Arsenal need a recognised centre-forward if they wish to boost their Premier League title hopes, and for now it seems like it is something that will be addressed in the summer transfer window.

Havertz has been utilised as a makeshift striker for most of the last 18 months and he has come under a lot of criticism at times. The German international doesn't take all his chances, which I think you can forgive someone being asked to play a role that isn't his natural position.

After some missed opportunities in recent games, Havertz responded with a goal against Villa last time out, while he has three for the Gunners in the Champions League so far, two of which have come at home.

He's not the most potent finisher but he can still be relied upon to chip in, and he's currently one of the best goalscorers Arsenal have at their disposal. Therefore, I think he's a sensible selection to get on the scoresheet in this clash.

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