Arsenal’s Six UCL Group Games Analyzed

Match Day 1 – Zagreb

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GNK Dinamo manager Zoran Mamic has guided them through three playoff rounds on their way to a group stage birth in pot number 4, and the Croatians’ first challenge is hosting North London side Arsenal.

Dinamo Zagreb have run the first division in Croatia since the 2005-06 season, and will have won ten titles in a row should they win the league this year.

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Their performance in Europe differs greatly from their domestic league, however. Since the turn of the millennium they have not progressed past the group stage – and have only reached the group stage twice in the past ten years.

An away tie in Croatia is difficult to start the competition, especially as this is Dinamo’s seventh match in Europe already. That being said, their best opponent over those six matches was Norwegian side Molde FK, who are a class, if not two classes below Arsenal.

Tactical Change?

Tactical changes are not very necessary for a match like this, as Arsenal’s first team is good enough to see off the likes of Dinamo Zagreb, even without countering specific threats.

While some of the players in the Arsenal team could get stymied by a resolute and physical defense, there are players like Alexis Sanchez in the Arsenal side that are match-winners: that by itself is enough.

Dinamo Player To Watch: Hilal Soudani 

Soudani is an Algerian international who plays up front for the Croatians. He netted a brace in their last match against Skenderbeu to put Dinamo in the group stage and looks like an offensive threat with the ball at his feet.

Arsenal Player To Watch: Francis Coquelin

It’s likely that the Coq will start barring any injuries in match day one, and he has a chance to prove his usefulness to the team by dominating an away leg in Croatia and helping Arsenal to their first win.

If Coquelin has a poor game, there is every chance Dinamo could be working in that space all game and possibly creating a few chances to ruffle Petr Cech’s feathers. If Coquelin is performing like he was against Monaco last season, however, The Gunners will have no trouble.

PREDICTION FOR MATCH DAY 1: Dinamo 0-1 Arsenal

While a 1-0 victory does not sound convincing, I can see a slow start for the Gunners in terms of finishing chances, even if they do get the majority of the attacks. That just seems to be how they are at the beginning of tournaments. If there ever was a convincing 1-0 win, this will be it.

Next: Match Day 2 - London vs. Olympiakos