Arsenal will struggle to enter Champions League knockout stage: Steven Gerrard

Despite hoping for its elimination, Mourinho insisted Arsene Wenger’s side still has every chance of success in the Champions League or the Europa League.

After their slow start, Arsenal were starting to dominate possession and were getting joy down the left through Nacho Monreal.

But Flamini – making his first appearance in Europe this season due the Francis Coquelin’s knee injury – is confident their performance against the Croats is a sign Arsenal are back on track.

“Even having a bad group phase – because to lose at home to Olympiakos and to lose in Zagreb and to lose six points they should win is bad – they can qualify”.

Nothing but three points and a Bayern Munich victory against Olympiakos would have been enough to keep their European campaign on course, and Arsene Wenger’s side did their job, taking the lead in the 29th minute thanks to Mesut Ozil’s diving header.

“We wanted to prove to everyone that we are the Arsenal that play lovely football and I was pleased because we were very creative offensively and very strong defensively”.

The Midfielder has missed Arsenal’s last four games after picking up a hamstring injury against Sheffield Wednesday in the league cup, but is expected to make his return on Sunday.

“It was important we did not concede the first goal because they (Dinamo) were quite risky going forward”. Both of us did it well, and that gives us a chance.

“It was our chance to [remain in with a chance of] qualifying for the next round, so we needed to play well and to score goals”. “We have a desire to play our game and we find good offensive talent with defensive efficiency”.

It will not be easy given Arsenal they have lost all three of their previous Champions League games away to them in the past, albeit they had already qualified in those meetings so the pressure was off. “We had a game of quality and control”.

“I’m sure they can go through”.

There have been major problems concerning crowd trouble in Greece of late, with last Saturday’s derby between Panathinaikos and Olympiakos abandoned after home fans clashed with police beforehand and threw flares at the visiting Olympiakos players as they walked out onto the pitch.

Will Arsenal kick this curious trend come December 9th, 2015?