Arsenal star Declan Rice pelted by missiles before riot police forced to intervene

Arsenal star Declan Rice was pelted with missiles by Dinamo Zagreb fans during the Champions League match in the Emirates.

The England international opened the scoring after less than two minutes as the Gunners looked to secure their passage to the last eight of the competition. But after his goal, Rice was targeted by visiting supporters as he tried to grab set pieces.

At the first opportunity, in the tenth minute, Rice managed to avoid the missiles raining down from the away side as he turned in a corner for the home side. And just before the half-hour mark he was again in the line of fire, with one object clearly hitting the Gunner star.

And trouble flared again in the second half, when shortly after Kai Havertz headed in Arsenal's second goal, at least 30 police officers dressed in riot gear rushed to the away corner, creating an additional dividing line between the home fans.

Dinamo fans were also seen throwing missiles over police and in the direction of home fans.

Dinamo Ultras were banned from attending European away matches last season after a Greek teenager was stabbed to death before they faced AEK Athens in August 2023.

In 2022 there was widespread condemnation, plus a fine, when some gave the Nazi salute before facing AC Milan at the San Siro. But these rebukes clearly did little to calm a rowdy group.

It now seems inevitable that UEFA will throw the book at the Croatian side, with fans likely and a possible ban for supporters.

Arsenal supporters, meanwhile, can look forward to an extended spell in the competition, with Wednesday night's victory all but sealing their place in the top eight of the revamped Champions League group stage.

They sit in third place with 16 points from their seven games, with only a dramatic difference in goal difference on the final matchday likely to land them in the play-offs.

Liverpool and Barcelona are the only teams to have their place in the round of 16 mathematically confirmed. It's a different story for Arsenal's Premier League rivals Manchester City, but they will need a win in their final match – and to get other results their way – if they are to progress out of the group stages.

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