Arsenal’s Six UCL Group Games Analyzed

Match Day 5 – London vs. Dinamo Zagreb

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Though it might be the smallest challenge on paper, this is a big match for the Gunners. There is a chance Olympiakos and Dinamo draw one of their matches, but if not, the Greeks will be level on points with Arsenal.

Luckily, the Greek champions face Bayern in their next match, and it seems unlikely that Bayern will lose that game. Therefore, in order to maintain their position as qualifiers for the round of 16, Arsenal must win this game.

I may be downplaying the ability of Dinamo to contend with the other teams in their group, but even if they don’t lose all four of their matches, they have little hope of finishing in second place.

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The motivation will undoubtedly be there for the Croatians, who will want to register at least one win in the group stage. Wenger will be firing his men up ahead of match day five, as every game is win or go home from that point on.

Tactical Change?

The best form of defense against small teams is to attack them as much as one possibly can, and for that reason Francis Coquelin perhaps should be omitted from the first eleven.

Playing with Ramsey and Cazorla deep and then pushing them forward is not so foolish when you are playing Dinamo Zagreb, whose best number 10 is eighteen-year old Ante Coric.

Dinamo’s other good young midfielder Marcelo Brozovic has been sold to Inter, which means there will be room for Mesut Ozil to do work in that space yet again. Maybe Wilshere and Ramsey behind Cazorla is also sensible, but Ozil is a great option against a small defense, as long as he is motivated.

Dinamo Player To Watch: Ante Coric

The young attacking midfielder Coric has yet to make a splash in the European game, though he is already touted as a huge prospect for the future.

Alen Halilovic did damage against teams in the Europa league before leaving for Barcelona B in 2014, and Coric could put himself on the map in this group stage. If given a shot by manager Zoran Mamic, he could cause problems for Arsenal’s defense through the middle.

Arsenal Player To Watch: Alexis Sanchez

Arsenal had a similar situation to this match against Anderlecht in last season’s Champions League, and drew 3-3 on match day five. The goalscoring was clearly there, but the motivation was not, and there was no player to outright secure the win for the Gunners.

While he may not have done it last season, Alexis Sanchez can be that player.

PREDICTION FOR MATCH DAY 5: Arsenal 3-1 Dinamo 

The fact is that if Arsenal don’t win this match, they are in huge trouble and they have to win in a stadium that they haven’t won at in more than five years.

They cannot lose.

Next: Match Day 6 - Athens