Arsenal have taken a 2-0 lead at the halfway stage of their must-win Champions League clash against Dinamo Zagreb at the Emirates this evening.
The Gunners made a dominant start to the night and their first attempt on goal saw Santi Cazorla spoon an effort over the bar, following a strong run by Joel Campbell down the right wing.
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Olivier Giroud was next to threaten for the hosts with a flicked header at the front post from a corner, but the Frenchman was unable to hit the target.
As the first half progressed, the Gunners continued to see plenty of the ball, but they struggled to create any clear-cut chances with their opponents getting a number of players back on the edge of their own box.
However, Zagreb's stubborn resistance was broken in the 29th minute as Mesut Ozil arrived to meet Alexis Sanchez's cross, before guiding a header into the corner to give Arsenal the lead.
The goal changed the complexion of the tie, and four minutes later the Gunners doubled their lead as Sanchez slotted Nacho Monreal's pull-back into the far corner.
Arsenal continued to look a danger in the final third and Ozil almost grabbed another goal when he danced through the Zagreb defence and forced the keeper to turn behind his powerful low drive.
The Gunners held on to their two-goal lead heading into the break, and with Bayern Munich leading Olympiacos in tonight's other group match, they are still in with a chance of reaching the last 16.
Alex Meyers
