Dinamo Zagreb vs. Arsenal: Winners and Losers from Champions League Game
Olivier Giroud was sent off as Arsenal opened their 2015-16 UEFA Champions League campaign with a 2-1 defeat at Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday night.
The visitors dominated possession but fell behind in the 24th minute. Josip Pivaric received credit for the goal, but replays appeared to show Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain taking the final touch into his own net. Giroud then saw red in the 40th minute following his second yellow card of the match.
A bad night for the Gunners became even worse in the 58th minute as Junior Fernandes headed in a corner to give Dinamo a 2-0 lead. Theo Walcott pulled a goal back 11 minutes from time, but Arsenal were unable to find an equalizer.
Here, Bleacher Report selects winners and losers from the match.
Loser: Arsene Wenger
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Arsenal traveled to Croatia for Wednesday's game without midfielder Aaron Ramsey and full-back Hector Bellerin. Both are key members of the team, and both are regular starters. In hindsight, leaving Ramsey and Bellerin at home appears to have been a bad decision on the part of Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
Wenger does not have the benefit of hindsight, of course. As manager, he must make difficult decisions in the present tense and deal with the consequences as they come. Even so, he must take some blame for some choices he made in guiding his side to a defeat against inferior opposition.
It's not hard to follow Wenger's reasoning. The Frenchman must have been looking ahead to Arsenal's game against Chelsea this weekend. Thus he allowed Ramsey and Bellerin to stay home and rest. In addition, goalkeeper Petr Cech and midfielder Francis Coquelin—two more key squad members‚ started the match on the bench.
Facing a team that has not lost since November of 2014, that probably wasn't the brightest idea. Sure, the talent at Wenger's disposal meant Arsenal should have won this game easily. But at this level, it's always wise to respect one's opponent.
We won't know for sure whether their presence would have lifted an insipid Arsenal past Dinamo. But Wenger's decision to rotate his starting XI hurt the Gunners on this night, and now they all face a much more difficult task in Group F.
Winner: Dinamo Zagreb
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At full-time, Dinamo Zagreb's players, coaches and fans celebrated wildly. This was no ordinary win. This was a night that the club will remember for years.
How many years? If history is any guide, it could be 16. Dinamo's last win in the Champions League group stage came in 1999.
The club's previous participation in the Champions League, in 2012-13, ended with one point and one goal scored. The previous year, Dinamo lost 7-1 at home to Lyon and 6-2 at Real Madrid.
All that was forgotten for one night against Arsenal.
"Of course I am delighted," Dinamo coach Zoran Mamic told UEFA.com. "We defeated Arsenal in the opening match. We won the match in the UEFA Champions League after a long time. I was secretly hoping that we can do a miracle, as I knew how my boys are working, living and concentrating on the task they are up to."
Loser: Olivier Giroud
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Olivier Giroud had a disastrous night leading Arsenal's line. In addition to drawing a red card, the French striker was unable to put away two big chances early in the match.
In the ninth minute, Giroud rose highest to meet a corner at the near post, but his powerful header was saved. Nine minutes later, he directed a weak header off the base of the upright before seeing his close-range follow-up deflected wide.
One could argue that Giroud was unlucky on both occasions. His sending-off, however, was pure stupidity. In the 23rd minute, the striker drew a needless yellow card for arguing with the referee over a non-call. He received his marching orders 17 minutes later for a high, late challenge.
While the second yellow might have been the slightest bit harsh, Giroud had only himself to blame for the first. His poor decision-making reduced Arsenal to 10 men for 50 minutes and helped contribute to an embarrassing defeat.
Winner: Theo Walcott
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Olivier Giroud's loss could turn into Theo Walcott's gain. The England international forward scored Arsenal's only goal of the night with a fine finish and must feel that he's earned a place in the starting XI ahead of his French counterpart.
Walcott took his chance very well in the 79th minute, racing past a defender with dazzling pace before slotting smoothly past the goalkeeper. A striker's primary job has to be scoring goals, and although Walcott missed a few chances in his last outing, he's now scored in three consecutive matches for club and country.
"Brilliant, brilliant take from Walcott," tweeted B/R's James McNicholas. "Good luck getting your place back, Oli [Giroud]."
With Giroud hurting Arsenal with his senseless red card on Wednesday, Walcott must appear a better option to manager Arsene Wenger at present.
Loser: Take Your Pick
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Walcott was perhaps the lone bright spot for Arsenal on Wednesday. As for poor performers, take your pick.
Captain Mikel Arteta returned to the midfield and was entirely ineffective. As Squawka noted, the Spaniard created zero chances, won no aerial duels or tackles and failed to record a shot or cross.
Mathieu Debuchy came back into the side after making noises in the press about playing time, but he won't have impressed Wenger. He and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were both at fault for Dinamo's opener, with Debuchy tucking in too tight and Oxlade-Chamberlain failing to track Josip Pivaric.
Meanwhile, David Ospina was shaky in goal and was perhaps lucky to avoid discipline for a rash challenge outside the box on Ante Coric.
In truth, the scoreline could have been worse for Arsenal. Dinamo hit the woodwork early in the second half and had a breakaway just before the final whistle. All in all, it was a night to forget for most of the squad.
Winner: Group F
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When the draw came out, it was easy to predict comfortable passage for Bayern Munich and Arsenal. Those two teams have the pedigree and the talent to dominate the other two in Group F.
As Wednesday night showed, though, this might not be a two-horse runaway. Arsenal have a tough task now to qualify, and three points will be necessary next time out, when Olympiakos visit the Emirates Stadium on Sept. 29.
