TodayPrice

Author: Chisom OZ

  • Resident doctors declare strike, challenge Wike, Akpabio to use govt hospitals in FCT

    Resident doctors declare strike, challenge Wike, Akpabio to use govt hospitals in FCT

    Association of Resident Doctors, Federal Capital Territory Administration (ARD FCTA) has commenced a three-day warning strike over unpaid salaries, allowances, and other demands.

    This is even as they challenged the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike and Senate President, Godswill Akpabio to use government hospitals to feel the plight of public health workers and patients.

    The strike which has grounded activities in government hospitals in Abuja came after a three-week ultimatum issued last year by the doctors elapsed.

    The President of ARD FCTA, Dr George Ebong, disclosed this in a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.

    He said the decision which is a fallout from its members’ Congress held on Tuesday came because doctors in Abuja have become abandoned projects.

    “The three-day strike is being implemented across all government hospitals in Abuja. From Wuse to Asokoro, Maitama, Kubwa, Zuba, Kwali, Abaji, Nyanya, and other all of our hospitals in Abuja.

    “We gave the government a three-week ultimatum to meet our demands, and after that, we met with them and dialogued on several occasions. They pleaded for two weeks, but after that elapsed, nothing has been done. Not even the minimum thing. We expected them to pay for the 6 months of unpaid arrears to doctors.

    “After this three-day strike, we will do an appraisal. If nothing is done, we will go on an indefinite strike.

    “We want the Minister of FCT to solve this problem to avert an indefinite shutdown of the hospitals in Abuja,” he said

    Challenging Minister Wike and Senate President Akpabio to use public hospitals, Ebong accused government officials of neglecting health facilities and workers’ welfare in Abuja.

    “If we are ready to fix the healthcare system in this country, I would think that every government official must use the government hospitals. Let’s start with that.

    “I would like to see the minister use Wuse General Hospital. I would like to see the Senate President use Maitama General Hospital. I would like to see the Speaker use Iyanya General Hospital. Then, we can start to fix the system. If they don’t use it, then we can’t fix it. I’m sorry but that’s the truth.” He said on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Wednesday.

  • Africa malaria jab rollout delivers 10 million doses

    Africa malaria jab rollout delivers 10 million doses

    Nearly 10 million malaria vaccine doses were delivered to Africa during the first year of routine immunisation being rolled out across the continent, the Gavi vaccine alliance said Wednesday.

    The mosquito-borne disease kills nearly 600,000 people a year, the vast majority in Africa, with children heavily affected, according to the World Health Organization.

    In a pilot phase from 2019 to 2023, more than two million children were jabbed with the RTS,S vaccine in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi, resulting in substantial reductions in severe malaria illness and hospitalisations.

    The pilot also resulted in a 13-percent drop in mortality, said WHO, which now recommends RTS,S alongside R21/Matrix-M to vaccinate against malaria.

    Following the pilot, routine malaria vaccination was rolled out in those three countries and 14 others, starting in Cameroon in January 2024.

    Gavi said more than 9.8 million doses had since been delivered, estimating that five million children have received a degree of protection.

    The programme aims to administer four vaccine doses to each child, which, Gavi said, stressing that it was seeking to “consistently reach those at highest risk in every country”.

    It hailed “promising early results” from Cameroon, with reduced deaths in children under five.

    “In a high-burden country like Cameroon, where malaria claims more than 13,000 lives each year and represents close to 30 percent of all hospital consultations, each percentage point reduction in cases, deaths and consultations represents lives transformed,” said Gavi chief Sania Nishtar.

    – Malaria burden in Africa –

    Overall, Africa accounts for approximately 94 percent of global malaria cases and 95 percent of related deaths, according to WHO.

    There were 263 million reported malaria cases in 2023, up from 252 million in 2022.

    But the number of deaths from the mosquito-borne disease fell back slightly from 600,000 in 2022 to 597,000 in 2023.

    More than half the deaths occurred in just four countries: Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Niger and Tanzania.

    Children under five accounted for about 76 percent of all malaria deaths in Africa.

    Gavi said it planned to expand into up to eight further African countries this year, in a move “expected to protect an additional 13 million children”.

    And from 2026 to 2030, Gavi said it “aims to help countries protect a further 50 million children with four doses of the malaria vaccine”.

  • Trump tells Putin to make Ukraine deal ‘now’ or face tougher sanctions

    Trump tells Putin to make Ukraine deal ‘now’ or face tougher sanctions

    US President Donald Trump stepped up the pressure on Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to make a peace deal with Ukraine Wednesday, threatening tougher economic measures if Moscow does not agree to end the war.

    Trump’s warning in a Truth Social post came as the Republican seeks a quick solution to a grinding conflict that he had promised to end before even starting his second term.

    “If we don’t make a ‘deal,’ and soon, I have no other choice but to put high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the United States, and various other participating countries,” Trump said.

    Trump said he was “not looking to hurt Russia” and had “always had a very good relationship with President Putin,” a leader for whom he has expressed admiration in the past.

    “All of that being said, I’m going to do Russia, whose Economy is failing, and President Putin, a very big FAVOR. Settle now, and STOP this ridiculous War! IT’S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE.”

    He added: “Let’s get this war, which never would have started if I were President, over with! We can do it the easy way, or the hard way – and the easy way is always better. It’s time to ‘MAKE A DEAL.’”

    Russia already faces crushing US sanctions over the war since invading Ukraine in 2022 and trade has slowed to a trickle. Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden’s administration imposed sweeping sanctions against Moscow’s energy sector earlier this month.

    But Trump — a billionaire tycoon famed for his book “The Art of the Deal” — and his administration reportedly believe there are ways of toughening measures to press Putin.

    The United States imported $2.9 billion in goods from Russia from January to November 2024 — down sharply from $4.3 billion over the same period in 2023, according to the US Department of Commerce.

    Top US imports from Russia include fertilizers and precious metals.

    – ‘Destroying Russia’ –

    It was Trump’s toughest line on Putin since he returned to the White House this week, and comes despite fears that it was Kyiv rather than Moscow that he would strongarm into making a peace deal.

    During a White House press conference on Tuesday Trump said only that it “sounds likely” that he would apply additional sanctions if Putin did not come to the table.

    The US president however declined to say whether he would continue Biden’s policy of sending billions of dollars in weaponry to help Ukraine.

    “We’re looking at that,” he said at the press conference. “We’re talking to (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelensky, we’re going to be talking to President Putin very soon.”

    Trump has also said he expects to meet Putin — with whom he had a summit in his first term in Helsinki — soon.

    Prior to beginning his new inauguration on Monday, Trump had vowed to end the Ukraine war “within 24 hours” and before even taking office, raising expectations he would leverage aid to force Kyiv to make territorial concessions to Moscow.

    But his promised breakthrough has proved elusive.

    In unusually critical remarks of Putin on Monday, Trump said the Russian president was “destroying Russia by not making a deal.”

    Trump added that Zelensky had told him he wanted a peace agreement to end the war.

    Putin congratulated Trump on his inauguration for a second term on Monday.

    The Russian leader added that he was “open to dialogue” on the Ukraine conflict with Trump’s incoming US administration, adding he hoped any settlement would ensure “lasting peace”.

    Trump has repeatedly praised Putin, whose hyper-masculine style and professed attachment to traditional values has increasingly found favor among some US Christian conservatives.

    US special counsel Robert Mueller and the FBI both investigated alleged collusion between Russia and Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign — which Trump in his post on Wednesday dubbed once again the “Russia hoax.”

    Mueller won convictions of six members of the Trump campaign but said he found no evidence of criminal cooperation with Russia by the Trump campaign.

  • Ogun: 22-year-old to die by hanging for stabbing alleged sex worker to death

    Ogun: 22-year-old to die by hanging for stabbing alleged sex worker to death

    An Ogun State High Court, sitting in Abeokuta on Wednesday sentenced a 22- year old Jamiu Malomo to  death by hanging for stabbing one Asisat Akande, an alleged sex worker to death.

    Malomo was convicted on a one count charge of murder.

    Delivering his  judgment, Justice O. Ogunfowora convicted Malomo for the charge preferred against him, saying that the prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubts and that the 22-year-old was guilty as  charged.

    Justice Ogunfowora held that the evidence presented by the prosecution was tenable and therefore sentenced Malomo, to death by hanging.

    “You are hereby guilty of killing Asisat Akande as preferred against you.

    ”You will be hanged by the neck until you are dead. May God have mercy on you”, he said.

    Earlier, during the trial the State Prosecuting counsel, Mr. A. M. Adebayo, Deputy Director Public Prosecution, said the convict committed the offence on July, 18, 2021 at about 9:30pm at Ori- Apata community, Oke-Aregba in Abeokuta.

    Adebayo, said the convict picked Asisat Akande who was a sex worker, from 3AD bar at Panseke area to his house for sexual pleasure.

    “After having carnal knowledge of the deceased, she demanded for N10,000 which was their agreement, but Malomo refused to give her the the complete money saying he had N8,000.

    “The situation led to an argument between him and the deceased which made the convict brought out knife from his pocket and stabbed her on the neck.

    “The stab resulted to the instant death of the deceased”, he said.

    He noted that Malomo was arrested by men of the Police at the 3AD Club in Panseke where he wanted to pick another girl for sexual pleasure.

    Adebayo however, said that the offence committed “contravened the provisions of section 316 and punishable under section 319 of the Criminal Code, laws of Ogun 2006”.

  • FG’ll not accept N532bn variation on 2nd Abuja airport runway contract – Keyamo

    FG’ll not accept N532bn variation on 2nd Abuja airport runway contract – Keyamo

    The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr Festus Keyamo, says the Federal Government will not accept the N532 billion contract variation requested for by the contractors handling the Abuja International Airport second runway.

    Keyamo stated this when he appeared before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Aviation to defend the ministry’s 2025 budget.

    He said that the variation was against the initial N90 billion for execution of the project.

    The minister, while responding to a question on the reported stalled execution of the project, said that the contractor had moved to site after the initial release of N30 billion and payment of compensation to  communities on issues related to land.

    He said that the contractor had also done excavation on the site and carried out other works from the funds released and thereafter requested for the N532 billion variation.

    This, he said, was unacceptable to the government.

    “The variation that the contractors are bringing is a variation that I totally disagree with. I will not go ahead with that variation; the president himself doesn’t like variation.

    “If a contract was awarded for N90 billion, and they are proposing N532 billion variation within a space of two years, I will not accept it. The option I have is to cancel the contract.

    “So, with the situation now, we have two proposals on the table which I will take to the president, and I will consult my chairman. So we are considering various options.

    “This country cannot go on with such unreasonable variations,” the minister said.

    He said that the ministry proposed a total of N71 billion in the 2025 budget, with capital projects put at N69 billion, personnel, one billion naira while overhead was N745 million.

    Keyamo said that a significant number of the projects listed for completion were already ongoing in the ministry.

    Earlier, Chairman of the Joint Committee, Sen. Abdulfatai Buhari, said that the committee must ensure efficient use of the funds allocated in order to achieve tangible results.

    According to him, the committee will strengthen its oversight on the ministry and the firm spending the funds.

    He said that the projects were so important to the aviation sector.

    Buhari also said that the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) which was removed from the Federal Government’s budget in 2023-2024, had been included in the 2025 budget.

    “Therefore, this budget event will be a critical step in our efforts to ensure that our nation’s resources are allocated efficiently and effectively,” he said.

    The senator commended the minister and his team for their commitment and the improvement recorded in the sector since the inception of the present administration.

    He urged Keyamo to prevail on the agencies under the ministry to always respond promptly to invitations by the National Assembly.

    He said that the national assembly had the power to invite the agencies in exercise of its oversight responsibility.

    “The only thing we just want to take and appeal to you is your agencies; whenever we call them, we don’t want to issue a second warning; we don’t want a situation where we will call them and they won’t come; we have the power to invite them.

    “So we want to appeal to you to appeal to your people that whenever they see a letter from the national assembly, they should show up,” he said. (NAN)

  • Sabalenka Swiatek eye final showdown at Australian Open

    Sabalenka Swiatek eye final showdown at Australian Open

    Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek are clear favourites to win their respective semi-finals on Thursday and set up a blockbuster Australian Open title decider.

    The men’s finalists at Melbourne Park will be decided on Friday, leaving the women in the spotlight in a night-time double-header at Rod Laver Arena.

    First up at 7:30 pm (0830 GMT) will be the world number one and defending champion Sabalenka against Spain’s 11th seed Paula Badosa, followed on to the centre court by five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek against Madison Keys.

    Sabalenka can become the first woman since Martina Hingis in 1999 to win the Australian Open three years in a row.

    If she does, she will join a select group of five women who have completed the Melbourne three-peat. The others are Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong, Steffi Graf and Monica Seles.

    “I’m really happy that I put myself in this situation where I have the opportunity to become one of them,” said the 26-year-old Belarusian.

    “To be next to those names, wow, that’s just a dream.”

    Badosa stunned world number three Coco Gauff in straight sets to reach her maiden Grand Slam semi-final at the age of 27.

    “She’s a great player and she has been through a lot. Now she’s back on her best game. I’m really happy to see that,” said Sabalenka.

    – Calmness, confidence –

    The Spaniard almost quit tennis last year because of a chronic back condition and she plunged outside the top 100.

    “A year ago I didn’t know if I had to retire from this sport,” said Badosa, who reached a career-high two in the world in 2022.

    Poland’s Swiatek has been the dominant force in the women’s draw so far, matching her previous best Australian Open run from 2022, when she lost to Danielle Collins in the last four.

    The world number two has dropped only 14 games so far in her five matches — seven of those in her first-round clash.

    She has exuded an air of calmness and confidence as she aims not only to win a maiden Australian Open title but also retake the number one ranking from Sabalenka.

    If the Belarusian fails to make the final, Swiatek will again rise to the top.

    Should Swiatek and Sabalenka meet in the final, the winner would leave Australia with the number one ranking.

    Swiatek must first get past 19th seed Keys.

    The American is into the Melbourne semi-finals for the third time, 10 years after her first, and on a career-best 10-match win streak after clinching the Adelaide title this month.

    “Madison is a great player and experienced so you never know,” Swiatek said.

    “It will be tricky, I will just be focused on myself. She has already played a good tournament here and we are well aware of how she can play.”

    The 29-year-old Keys says she is a “smarter” player than the one who lost the semi-final in 2015 to eventual champion Serena Williams.

    She added: “Probably a little bit less fearless though, but to be here 10 years later in the semi-finals again, I’m really proud of myself.”

  • 14.3m Nigerians abuse drugs – NAFDAC

    14.3m Nigerians abuse drugs – NAFDAC

    Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has said that about 14.3 million or  Nigerians are victims of drug abuse.

    Adeyeye stated this at the inaugural ceremony of the agency’s youth programme, tagged, ‘’Catch Them Young,’’  held at the Government Secondary School, Rumuokwuta, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday.

    According to her, research findings show that one out of every four high-risk drug users has been arrested for drug-related offences.

    She said that the arrest included 73 per cent for drug possession, 12 per cent for theft, five per cent for sex work, four per cent for burglary, and two per cent for shop lifting.

    ‘’Note that this data only shows the number of arrests; if we consider that most crimes are unreported, then we will see that we have a huge problem on hands,’’ she said.

    Adeyeye, however, noted the negative effects of drug abuse on families, society, and the nation’s socio-economic development.

    She explained that the situation caused NAFDAC to initiate a comprehensive, coordinated, and  intensive programme, designed to reduce the prevalence of drug abuse among secondary school students.

    According to the DG, drug addiction can rise from both legal such as prescribed medicines and illicit drugs.

    ’’This programme is not designed to scare anyone but to have honest conversations with you.

    ’’This will help you to take informed decisions with regards to illicit drug use, including alcohol consumption,’’ she said.

    Speaking earlier, Mr Onogwu Emmanuel, State Coordinator, NAFDAC, Rivers, Mr Onogwu Emmanuel, stated the reason behind the sensitisation and capacity building programme being moved to secondary schools.

    He explained that the secondary students were most vulnerable, adding that the youths, as the future leaders, should actively participate in preventing drug abuse.

    He, however, said that two sch00ls were selected from each of the three senatorial zones of the state for the pilot phase of the project.

    In her remark, the Principal of the school, Gladys Iheumamme commended NAFDAC for the project and urged it to sustain it in order to save the future of the NIgerian youth. (NAN)

  • PSG sink Man City with stunning Champions League comeback

    PSG sink Man City with stunning Champions League comeback

    Paris Saint-Germain produced a stunning second-half fightback as they recovered from two goals down to beat Manchester City 4-2 in a Champions League thriller on Wednesday.

    The result leaves Pep Guardiola’s side still at risk of an early exit.

    All the goals came in the second half on a wet night at the Parc des Princes, with Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland scoring to put City firmly in control.

    However, Ousmane Dembele pulled one back and Bradley Barcola brought PSG level by the hour mark, before Joao Neves headed the French champions in front and Goncalo Ramos wrapped up the win at the death after a long VAR check.

    Both of these powerful clubs came into their penultimate game in the league phase in Paris in trouble, with 24th-placed City occupying the last qualifying spot in the 36-team standings on eight points, and PSG one point behind them in 26th.

    Both of these powerful clubs came into their penultimate game in the league phase in Paris in trouble, with 24th-placed City occupying the last qualifying spot in the 36-team standings on eight points, and PSG one point behind them in 26th.

    City knew a win here would probably guarantee them a spot in next month’s play-offs while landing a damaging blow to PSG, semi-finalists last season.

    Instead it is PSG who move to 10 points, a tally which may now be enough to progress, while Guardiola’s team drop out of the qualifying spots with just one game to come.

    However, a win at home to Club Brugge next Wednesday should suffice as it would take them above the Belgian side in the standings.

    This match saw City coach Guardiola, who led his side to Champions League glory in 2023, pit his wits against PSG’s Luis Enrique, his close friend and former team-mate at Barcelona.

  • Real Madrid thrash Salzburg to get back on Champions League track

    Real Madrid thrash Salzburg to get back on Champions League track

    Champions League holders Real Madrid got back on track in Europe with a 5-1 victory over RB Salzburg on Wednesday to ensure they will not be eliminated at the first hurdle.

    Read Also: PSG sink Man City with stunning Champions League comeback

    Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes struck twice each with French superstar Kylian Mbappe also on target in a ruthless display at the Santiago Bernabeu.

    Carlo Ancelotti’s side lost three of their first six games in a worrying start to the competition and will likely have to compete in the extra play-off round in February which is part of the competition’s new format, unless they can scrape a top-eight spot.

    Victory left Los Blancos 16th, a point behind Bayer Leverkusen in eighth, which is the final spot for direct qualification to the last 16.

    Rodrygo

    Brazilian winger Rodrygo struck twice in the first half to help Madrid take control, with Mbappe netting soon after the break and Vinicius grabbing a brace of his own to bring up a century of goals for the club.

    “I’m very happy after reaching 100 goals with this shirt,” Vinicius told Movistar, noting he was close to Brazilian compatriot Ronaldo Nazario’s tally of 104.

    “I hope to be able to continue like this and score a lot of goals, and mark an era in this team — that’s my dream.”

    Defeats by Liverpool, AC Milan and Lille put Madrid under pressure ahead of their final two group matches and their Austrian visitors started with vim, pinning back Los Blancos.

    Madrid created little of note until Rodrygo’s opener after 23 minutes changed the dynamic of the game.

    Madrid created little of note until Rodrygo’s opener after 23 minutes changed the dynamic of the game.

    The winger, in sensational form in recent weeks with eight goals in his last nine games across all competitions, finished neatly after Jude Bellingham nudged a cross into his path at the back post.

    His second goal was even better, set up by Bellingham with a brilliant backheel, which Rodrygo finished first time with a crisp curling strike.

    “It’s so easy to play with Jude, he makes everything easy, the movements he makes, his second assist was very nice and I love playing with him,” said Rodrygo.

    Mbappe

    Mbappe notched the third early in the second half, pinching the ball from Salzburg goalkeeper Janis Blaswich and tapping home to continue his own recent run of fine form after a shaky start to life at Madrid.

    Veteran midfielder Luka Modric sent Vinicius down the left with a fine pass for Madrid’s fourth, and the Brazilian finished with a powerful drive across Blaswich.

    Vinicius netted again after Fede Valverde burst down the middle and put him through after a slick team breakaway, with the forward stroking home with ease after losing his marker.

    Mads Bidstrup slapped home a volley late on to offer Salzburg scant consolation, as well as carrying on Madrid’s unenviable run of conceding in each of their Champions League outings this season.

  • Arsenal beat Dinamo on, course for Champions League last 16

    Arsenal beat Dinamo on, course for Champions League last 16

    Arsenal moved within touching distance of the Champions League last 16 after Declan Rice’s goal in just 106 seconds inspired their 3-0 win against Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday.

    Read Also: PSG sink Man City with stunning Champions League comeback

    Mikel Arteta’s side raced into the lead in their penultimate league phase fixture thanks to Rice’s clinical finish.

    Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard netted in the second half at the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal climbed to third place in the standings.

    Arsenal have won five of their seven league phase matches, losing just once, and are almost certain to finish in the top eight, which secures automatic qualification for the last 16.

    The north Londoners, who have never won the Champions League, travel to Girona for their last match in the league phase next week knowing a point will guarantee a top-eight berth.

    With Arsenal holding a three-point lead over a group of teams below eighth place, even a defeat could still send them through given their superior goal difference.

    This was a much-needed victory for Arsenal after last weekend’s disappointing 2-2 draw against Aston Villa, in which the Gunners blew a two-goal lead to dent their Premier League title hopes.

    Arsenal have won just two of their last six games in all competitions and moving to the brink of the Champions League last 16 is a welcome boost following their FA Cup exit against 10-man Manchester United and League Cup semi-final first leg loss to Newcastle.

    Arteta had urged his players to take advantage of their “strong position” in the league phase by winning on home turf against a Dinamo team fighting to secure a place in the knockout stage play-offs.

    They rose to the challenge as Arteta’s decision to play Jakub Kiwior in central defence in the absence of the injured William Saliba was rewarded.

    Arsenal moved within touching distance of the Champions League last 16 after Declan Rice’s goal in just 106 seconds inspired their 3-0 win against Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday.

    Read Also: PSG sink Man City with stunning Champions League comeback

    Mikel Arteta’s side raced into the lead in their penultimate league phase fixture thanks to Rice’s clinical finish.

    Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard netted in the second half at the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal climbed to third place in the standings.

    Arsenal have won five of their seven league phase matches, losing just once, and are almost certain to finish in the top eight, which secures automatic qualification for the last 16.

    The north Londoners, who have never won the Champions League, travel to Girona for their last match in the league phase next week knowing a point will guarantee a top-eight berth.

    With Arsenal holding a three-point lead over a group of teams below eighth place, even a defeat could still send them through given their superior goal difference.

    This was a much-needed victory for Arsenal after last weekend’s disappointing 2-2 draw against Aston Villa, in which the Gunners blew a two-goal lead to dent their Premier League title hopes.

    Arsenal have won just two of their last six games in all competitions and moving to the brink of the Champions League last 16 is a welcome boost following their FA Cup exit against 10-man Manchester United and League Cup semi-final first leg loss to Newcastle.

    Arteta had urged his players to take advantage of their “strong position” in the league phase by winning on home turf against a Dinamo team fighting to secure a place in the knockout stage play-offs.

    They rose to the challenge as Arteta’s decision to play Jakub Kiwior in central defence in the absence of the injured William Saliba was rewarded.

    Related News
    PSG comeback floors Man City as Arsenal near Champions League last 16
    Real Madrid thrash Salzburg to get back on Champions League track
    PSG sink Man City with stunning Champions League comeback
    Havertz strikes

    Jurrien Timber had struggled in the heart of Arteta’s defence in the Villa game, but Kiwior was more comfortable alongside Gabriel Magalhaes.

    Arsenal made a flying start in the second minute as Gabriel Martinelli surged down the left flank and crossed towards Havertz, whose cushioned pass was lashed home by Rice from 10 yards.

    The Gunners’ quickest Champions League goal since 2014 provoked an angry response from Dinamo fans, with Rice pelted with plastic cups when he took a corner moments after his opener.

    Rice was unfazed and his goal-bound drive was blocked by Dinamo captain Arijan Ademi before Gabriel headed just wide from Odegaard’s corner.

    Gabriel screamed in frustration after that miss and Arteta looked equally vexed when Havertz headed woefully wide from another good opportunity.

    Croatian champions Dinamo, managed by former Italy World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro, barely got out of their own half for long periods.

    Odegaard and Raheem Sterling combined to set up Martinelli but the Brazilian’s 20-yard drive was too close to Dinamo keeper Ivan Nevistic.

    With Arsenal struggling to deliver the knockout blow, Ethan Nwaneri replaced Sterling as the teenage forward returned from a four-game injury absence.

    Havertz finally put the result beyond doubt in the 66th minute, rising to meet Martinelli’s pin-point cross with a glancing header from 12 yards.

    After Havertz’s wife was sent death threats following his penalty shoot-out miss against Manchester United, the striker is beginning to work his way back into favour among Arsenal fans.

    The much-maligned German’s second goal in his last two games took him to 14 in all competitions this season.Odegaard wrapped up the comfortable victory in stoppage-time with a cool finish from Leandro Trossard’s cross.