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Champions League: Dinamo Zagreb 0-3 Arsenal - Result
'I respect Zagreb but I believe in the resolve of my team to repeat the performance of last year'

Fabregas 63, 79, Van Persie 64

By Richard Clarke at the Maksimir

Before this trickiest of European trips, Arsène Wenger was setting his sights at an achievable level. “We will try to win there but above all we just want not to damage our chances to qualify,” he said. “In two weeks we will be in much better shape than now.”

He need not have worried. Arsenal would appear to have one foot in the Champions League group stages after winning 3-0 at Dinamo Zagreb in the third qualification round first leg on Tuesday night.

Francesc Fabregas struck twice to celebrate his 100th appearance for the Club. That brace was sandwiched around a superb finish from Robin van Persie.

All the goals came in the second half just as Arsenal seemed to be running out of attacking ideas. Shorn of nine players and baring only five of the 11 who started the Champions League Final 12 weeks ago, they struggled to find their rhythm in the first half. However they kept their resolve and took the chances that came their way.

Barring a freak result at Emirates Stadium in the second leg on August 23, Arsenal are in the Champions League group stages for the ninth season in succession

The omission of Jose Antonio Reyes from the starting line-up caused more than a ripple of interest in the press box before kick-off. The Spanish striker had been linked with a move to Real Madrid in the build up to this game and, if the newspapers were to be believed, the Bernabeu side did not want him cup-tied in Europe. Debutant Tomas Rosicky took up Reyes’ normal role on the left flank with Justin Hoyte preferred to Mathieu Flamini directly behind him at full back.