Mikel Arteta Praises Arsenal's Performance as They Eye Winter Break

Arsenal's 3-0 victory over Dinamo Zagreb has all but assured their Champions League qualification, with manager Mikel Arteta praising his team's performance and eyeing a winter break.

As the Champions League's inaugural league phase came to a close, Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice expressed his enthusiasm for the revamped format. Following Arsenal's 3-0 victory over Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday, Rice shared his thoughts on the new system, which has sparked both interest and confusion among fans and players alike.

Rice gave the new format a resounding thumbs up, stating, “It's been really, really good. It's the first time trying it out and I think everyone was a little bit confused how it would work when it first got announced, but playing in this format has been really interesting.” His endorsement comes as the Champions League prepares to transition to the knockout phase, with the new format set to continue shaping the competition's landscape.

Declan Rice, Arsenal's midfielder, has expressed his enthusiasm for the new Champions League format, which features a 36-team group stage. “Playing big teams, coming up against different opposition, I've really liked it,” Rice said after scoring the opener in Arsenal's 3-0 victory over Dinamo Zagreb. The win has made it virtually certain that Arsenal will finish in the top eight and qualify for the knockout phase.

Arsenal's manager, Mikel Arteta, was cautious not to celebrate prematurely, saying, “We haven't been told. I know we're in a really strong position.” However, with 16 points and a third-place standing, Arsenal's qualification is all but assured. Kai Havertz scored Arsenal's second goal, taking his season's tally to 14, while Martin Odegaard poached his first goal since November in stoppage time to seal the win.

Arteta praised his team's performance, saying, “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.” He also highlighted the benefits of rotating players, adding, “We rotated players that didn't play that many minutes and they responded really well.” Arsenal's victory extended their unbeaten home run in Europe to 15 games.

A dominant performance from Arsenal 🔴💪#UCL pic.twitter.com/wvvLX42XS7

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 22, 2025

With Arsenal's Champions League qualification all but secured, Arteta is looking forward to a winter break, which will give his players a chance to recharge their batteries. “It was very helpful (last season) and with the schedule that we've had for the last three months, you can have a break, reset a little bit and work on things and rest some people, while some people are back, that would be great,” he said. The break will also provide an opportunity for Arsenal's players to enjoy some winter sunshine, a welcome respite from the intense schedule.