Arsenal’s Declan Rice gives new Champions League format thumbs up

LONDON – The mathematics was still causing a few heads to be scratched after Arsenal’s 3-0 victory over Dinamo Zagreb on Jan 22, but Declan Rice gave the new Champions League format a thumbs up.

“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,” the midfielder, 26, said.

“Playing big teams, coming up against different opposition, I’ve really liked it.”

Despite his side being outside the play-off spots in 26th, Dinamo defender Samy Mmaee agreed, saying: “I like the new format. I like that we’ve played against a lot of different teams. You play against teams that are top level in the world, and teams that you can beat... everyone in the world is happy about this, because you never know who’s going to qualify.”

Rice scored the opener as Arsenal made it a virtual mathematical certainty that they will finish in the top eight of the 36-team group stage, which this season replaced the established format of eight groups of four.

They are in third place with 16 points and in reality can already start planning for the knockout phase, even if manager Mikel Arteta could not bring himself to say it.

“We haven’t been told. I know we’re in a really strong position,” the Spaniard said after Arsenal extended their unbeaten home run in Europe to 15 games.

Rice has just three goals this season but Arteta believes he could go on a scoring streak now.

“His intent, his purpose, especially the attacking positions he is taking. How he is striking the ball. In the last few weeks, he had some big chances to score,” he said.

“We need to affect the game from that position. The more consistent he is in those positions, with the quality he has, he will score goals. He has played so much football in the last two years. You can see when he is fresh, he is a big player for us.”

Kai Havertz took his season’s tally to 14 with Arsenal’s second goal and Martin Odegaard poached his first goal since November in stoppage time to wrap up a comfortable victory.

“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,” Arteta said.

“Overall, scoring three goals, winning in the Champions League at home, another clean sheet at home and having made some changes as well.

“We rotated players that didn’t play that many minutes and they responded really well.”

Avoiding the Champions League play-offs will also guarantee the Arsenal squad some winter sunshine as Arteta said a break is now likely to recharge batteries seeing as they are already out of the FA Cup, which continues on Feb 7.

“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.
REUTERS