Dinamo Zagreb v Arsenal preview: Gunners eye fourth clean sheet

Arsenal start their Champions League campaign with a trip to Croatia to face Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday, looking for a fourth clean sheet in as many games.

Wenger gunning for CL glory

Ahead of their Champions League opener, Arsene Wenger has his eyes on the ultimate prize

In the Premier League, the Gunners played out a goalless draw with Liverpool before beating Newcastle and Stoke without conceding a goal.

Arsene Wenger's side now begin their 18th consecutive season in Europe's elite club competition and will hope to go beyond the round of 16 for the first time since the 2009/10 season, if they can negotiate a group that also includes Bayern Munich and Olympiacos.

First though, they must overcome a Dinamo side that has won their domestic title in each of the last 10 seasons. However, the Croats have never progressed from the group stage and few would bet against that changing this year.

Team news

Per Mertesacker is still recovering from a virus and will not be available for the Group F clash at the Stadion Maksimir, although the defender could return for Saturday's clash at Chelsea.

Jack Wilshere has suffered another injury setback, with Arsenal confirming the midfielder requires surgery on a hairline fracture in his left leg.

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But Wenger has no fresh injury concerns heading into Wednesday's clash, with Tomas Rosicky and Danny Welbeck (both knee) the other long-term absentees.

The hosts, meanwhile, are without Goncalo Santos, with the Portuguese midfielder suspended for the encounter in Zagreb.

Opta stats

Arsenal are playing in the Champions League for the 18th consecutive season; only Real Madrid (19) can boast a longer current streak.

These sides have met before in the Champions League Qualifying Round in 2006/07 - Arsenal won 5-1 on aggregate including a 2-1 win at home; their first-ever win at the Emirates Stadium.

Dinamo Zagreb have lost their last six meetings with English opposition, conceding 16 goals in the process.

This is the Croatian side's first appearance in the Champions League since 2012/13. They've never made it past the Group Stage in four previous attempts.

Arsenal have kept just one clean sheet in their last 10 away Group Stage games.

The Gunners have won 76 games in the Champions League - the most of any team not to win the competition.

Betting

Arsenal are odds-on at 4/9 to kick-off their Champions League campaign with a victory as Dinamo Zagreb go up against odds of 13/2 for a victory. The Croatian outfit are the rank outsiders in the group at 33/1 to finish first, while Arsene Wenger's men are 5/2 second favourites to Bayern Munich (4/11). Wenger may have favoured Theo Walcott in recent matches but Sky Bet rate Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez (both 7/2) as shorter odds than the English frontman in the first goalscorer market, while Angelo Henriquez is considered the hosts' main threat at 9/1.