The math was still scratching some heads after Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday, but Declan Rice gave the green light to the new format of the Champions League.
“It’s gone really, really well. It’s the first time we’ve tried it and I think everyone wasn’t sure how it would work when it was first announced, but playing in this format has been really interesting,” said the midfielder.
“Playing against big teams, facing different opposition, I really enjoyed it.”
Rice scored the opener as Arsenal made it a near mathematical certainty that they will finish in the top eight in the 36-team group stage which this season replaced the established format of eight groups of four.
They sit third with 16 points and can actually already start planning for the knockout stage, even if manager Mikel Arteta couldn’t bring himself to say it.
“We haven’t been told. I know we’re in a very strong position,” the Spaniard said after Arsenal extended their unbeaten run in Europe to 15 matches.
Kai Havertz took his season tally to 14 with Arsenal’s second goal and Martin Ødegaard scored his first goal since November in stoppage time to complete a comfortable victory.
“Overall we did the job and did it well. We didn’t concede a shot on target, which again is really positive. It shows that the team is really well balanced,” Arteta said. “In total I scored three goals, won the Champions League at home, another clean sheet at home – four in a row – and I also made a few changes.
“We rotated players who hadn’t played a lot of minutes and they responded very well.”
Avoiding the Champions League playoffs will also guarantee Arsenal’s squad some winter sunshine, as Arteta said a break is now likely to recharge the batteries given they are already out of the FA Cup, which continues from February 7 to 11.
“It was very helpful (last season) and with the schedule we’ve had the last three months, you can take a break, reset a little bit and work on things and rest some people, while others are back, that would be great,” he said.
