Rice lauds 'important win' as Arsenal boost automatic qualifying hopes

Declan Rice praised Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb, describing it as an "important win" after their disappointing 2-2 draw with Aston Villa.

The victory moved them closer to securing automatic Champions League qualification. Rice scored his first Champions League goal, with Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard also on target. He acknowledged the frustration of the Villa result, stating, "It was a real kick in the teeth," but emphasized the importance of bouncing back.

Rice and Odegaard highlighted the manager’s focus on midfielders making late runs into the box, with Rice saying, "It's down to us to make up that extra five, 10 yards." Odegaard echoed this, noting the team's desire to "always get better" and the positive impact of the win.