Match Preview: Arsenal v Dortmund; Champion’s League Match Day 3
Arsenal carry their Champion’s League perfect record into tonight’s vital clash with German visitor’s Borussia Dortmund. If it lives up to it’s billing, this could be the clash of the Group Stages.
When Group F was drawn out of the hat, many targetted this as the Group of Death. Early season prognosticators even went so far as to declare that it would be Arsenal who might struggle to make it to the knock out stages for the 13th successive season. Well, after two qualifying matches and the two Group Stages, it is Arsenal who are making the Group look anything like a Group of Death.
An always tricky tie in Marseille ended 2-0 and Arsenal’s first test of the season against Napoli was hardly the challenge it was presented with the high flying Gunners absolutely dictating play. No one should be under any illusions though, Dortmund present as tough a challenge as anything the boys in red and white will face.
While they came out on the negative side of the tie against Napoli, they presented enough challenges to the Italians that it could’ve very easily gone the other way, even when they were ten men down. They press their opponents with such conviction, forcing errors high up the pitch in order to create chances. They can absolutely dismantle a team this way. Arsenal as we have seen in the past, can get taken off their game when the are pressed tightly. The need to move quicker and get the ball out of their feet fast will be essential for them to counter the pressure of the Germans.
Additionally, Dortmund like to add to their intense pressure a high defensive line. That way when they don’t get the ball on their pressing the likelihood of an attack hitting them is nullified by an offisde call. Last season Olivier Giroud’s presence was negated a few times by teams that employed a high line. Think back to Carrow Road and Arsenal’s 1-0 loss to Norwich. He’s going to need to be patient. Higuain tok advantage of the gaps in the Dortmund back line which is so fluid that he created plenty of chances. Unlike Higuain, Giroud can cause further damage in that he is much better holding up the ball and bring ing others into play.
For Arsenal, they could the most damage out wide. Dortmund are likely to be playing without any natural fullbacks. That’s a good thing because Arsenal are lacking any real wingers, however they do have creative players that thrive out wide. The trio of Cazorla, Özil and Ramsey are so fluid in their play that the can sit out wide – hide and come in and be effective on attack. Cazorla is especially deft at this and his skill on the ball can cause many-a fullback issues.
The obvious issue for Arsenal will be the loss of Mathieu Flamini. Since coming on, Arsenal have seen what they have been missing by having a true defensive minded midfielder in front of the back 4. This role will be especially crucial against a team like Dortmund who are so good going through the middle. Mikel Arteta who filled the role with class will get back there today. And while he is not a natural DM, he is skilled enough not to let himself wander too far forward when there is a need for someone in the midfield to sit deep.
This has all the makings of a classic Champion’s League night. Two very good teams. Both with ample to play for. For Arsenal beating Dortmund likely locks the group down and all but locks their place to the knockout stages. Also beating one of the pre-tournament favorites and last year’s runner-up will have mental reprocussions along a similar vein as beating Bayern at Bayern did. Think of the confidence level for Arsenal should they go on to win this match.
It says alot about where Arsenal have come this season that many would be disappointed with a draw. It also says alot that Arsenal now look favorites for the group when before it started we were all told we’d be lucky to get out of it. There is still plenty of work to do. And matches are not decided here in this blog or on the interwebs. It has to be done on the pitch. We all wonder mostly quietly when we hit our first bump, given the magnitude of the occassion, I don’t think Arsenal go flat tonight.
Players to watch:
Arsenal. Aaron Ramsey. Brimming with confidence, at this moment he can do no wrong. Whether it’s creating opportunities or scoring goals, Aaraon Ramsey is dominating on all the stages he performs
Dortmund. Robert Lewandowski. Single-handedly put Real Madrid out of the tournament last season. No one should think the version that played against England will show up. Expect the monster whom everyone covets.
Projected Lineups:
Arsenal: Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Arteta, Ramsey, Wilshere; Özil, Cazorla; Giroud
Dortmund: Weidenfeller; Grosskreutz, Subotic, Hummels, Durm; Sahin, Bender; Aubameyang, Mkhitaryan, Reus; Lewandowski
Arsenal Injuries and Suspensions:
Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee) Podolski (thigh) Walcott(stomach) Diaby(knee) Flamini (concussion)
Head to Head Tournament Stats:
|
Arsenal |
Dortmund |
|
| Goals Scored |
4 |
4 |
| Attempts on Target |
15 |
21 |
| Attempts off Target |
3 |
10 |
| Corners |
10 |
8 |
| Offsides |
2 |
5 |
| Fouls Committed |
25 |
37 |
| Yellow Cards |
1 |
3 |
| Red Cards |
0 |
1 |
Match Official:
Referee: Jonas Eriksson (SWE)
Assistant referees: Mathias Klasenius (SWE) , Daniel Wärnmark (SWE)
Additional assistant referees: Stefan Johannesson (SWE) , Markus Strömbergsson (SWE)
Fourth official: Daniel Gustavsson (SWE)
Broadcast Information:
US: FoxSoccer 2 Go 2:45 PM EST
UK: ITV1 1945 GMT/20.45 CET
YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 2
Dortmund: 1
Match Facts (courtesy UEFA Press Kit:)
- The Gunners are in the group stage for the 16th season in a row. For the sixth time in eight campaigns they had to negotiate a qualifying round, dispatching Fenerbahçe SK 5-0 on aggregate in the play-offs with Aaron Ramsey scoring three times.
- Dortmund are in their ninth UEFA Champions League campaign. They were victorious in the 1997 edition and last season was their most successful campaign since then, remaining unbeaten until the semi-final second leg when they lost 2-0 at Real Madrid CF. They still won the tie 4-3 on aggregate after Robert Lewandowski scored all four in a 4-1 first-leg win in Dortmund.
- An earlier visit to Santiago Bernabéu in last season’s group stage had ended 2-2 while apart from the draw at Manchester City they also won 4-1 at AFC Ajax in the group stage. In the knockout rounds they drew 2-2 at FC Shakhtar Donetsk and 0-0 at Málaga CF, although this season’s matchday one defeat in Naples means they have lost their last two UEFA Champions League away matches and are without a win in their last four.
- The teams last met in 2011/12 when two Robin van Persie goals gave Arsenal the points at home despite Shinji Kagawa’s added-time response.
- Arsenal’s home record against German clubs is W9 D1 L3; overall it is W13 D5 L8.
- The teams crossed swords in the 2002/03 first group stage, Arsenal winning 2-0 in London and Dortmund turning the tables with a 2-1 win in Germany.
- Arsenal faced two Bundesliga sides last season, losing 2-0 at home to FC Schalke 04 before drawing 2-2 away. That defeat ended the Gunners’ run of six successive home wins against German visitors and also a sequence of 45 home games unbeaten when facing non-English opponents
Manager’s Comments:
Arsène Wenger:
[In 2011] they were short of experience in the Champions League and since then they have reached the final last year, so they will have more confidence. The structure of the team and the quality of the team is similar.
I believe we are much better and our young players have gained experience and maturity. The consistency of our results since May shows our quality. The feel-good factor is the quality of the team, the solidarity of the team and the desire to do well. We need a special hunger and I believe we have that hunger.
[German teams] don’t hide and we don’t hide, so it should be an exciting game. Their efficiency is their quality, their ability to take their chances. We go into the game focused on our quality and performance. We have to come out of the match and feel that we have played at our best, and at our best we can challenge anybody.
Jürgen Klopp, coach
Arsenal have kept their style despite the criticism. I feel their style has always been modern and now I feel it is working well. I’ve been impressed with Arsenal’s development and it will be two teams playing very well playing each other.
Two or three months ago everyone wanted Arsène to spend £80m and he couldn’t find the right players. So he took Flamini for zero – good idea. Then he took [Mesut Özil] for some money. This team missed a player and I think that could have been Mesut Özil. One year ago I don’t think many thought Arsenal could play without Santi Cazorla, but now they have [Aaron] Ramsey and [Jack] Wilshere on the wings and [Olivier] Giroud is one of the best strikers.
He’s [Özil] technically perfect, fast and has developed a drive on goal. He is a very intelligent player and could play in any team. You don’t have to force him in training, it is all natural and that is why it was a great idea from Arsenal. They will be two close games and I think small things will be decisive and we will have to be ready for these small things.
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Any comments on the attached?
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/oct/24/cesc-fabregas-arsenal-barcelona1
agree with Stag, against the best of teams, winning and losing is on very fine margins. Our boys tried, and it is in this type of games that we start to see the extent of our injury crisis. The high line and width provided by BvB would have been ideal for Walcott or Ox or any of our wide men.
Only concern is who to play against Chelsea in the carling cup? We need to rest Giroud, Ozil, Ramsey, Arteta and Wilshire? but we cant also play kids against Chelsea, they would destroy them. We need our players back and in particular Walcott. He is key to our game and against the really best teams. Who do we play against Palace? Can we rest Ozil?
Also, Klopp’s tactics were spot on. Heavy pressing to start, then when legs start to go, to sit back and hit on the counter. Bringing on the speedster was class by him. That tactic will beat most teams.
This game was always likely to be close and cagey. Dortmund pressed and settled much quicker and we looked out of sorts for much of the first half and even in to the second half. We created patches of pressure, like just before and after our goal but we were largely unimpressive for the first two thirds of the match. In the latter third of the game we dominated possession more but our play was often too slow and hence too easily negated by a physical and competitive Dortmund side.
There were a few key moments, events, like Rosicky’s shot blocked on the line with the keeper beat. And in truth Dortmund’s second goal, when it came, was against the run of play. A breakaway formed as our defence had been a bit lulled in to attack-mode and was higher up the pitch. We actually got back well but Dortmund did even better with the ball cross-passed low from right to left and Sagna nowhere in sight. Cue Lewandowski, who impressed all night long, was in position to take advantage of no fullback and met the cross-pass with a side footed shot of real perfection. It seemed a bit unfair given the momentum was with Arsenal, but this is the reality of quality. Dortmund would have been happy with a point and could afford to be patient relying on their physical combativeness to negate Arsenal’s flow. We never really flowed. At times our passing was awful by our recent standards. They were patient and then capitalised at the critical event moment. They then played out the last 10 min’s really well and we, frankly, did not.
Observations:
1. Sagna. Truly awful crossing. Even the cross for the goal was very nearly another poor one. Dunno, he’s never got better in this area, maybe it’s harder than it looks. I would have thought it was something you could practice? AWOL and cantering back at the decisive moment. I used to love Sagna’s wholeheartedness, I cut him a lot of slack after his 2 leg breaks, now there are a few signs to make me not so sure. Maybe his mind has wandered a bit. He was unfortunate to join Arsenal just as we declined. He might just want or need a new challenge.
2. Midfield. Where was our possession game? At times I forgot Ozil and Ramsey were on the pitch. Did we miss Flamini that much? Arteta and Wilshere worked manfully. But often the passing was really poor.
3. What’s with Wilshere? Is he just physically out of sorts or is he miffed at his change in status? Maybe there is a bit of both? He just looks grumpy a lot. Is he feeling frustrated with Ozil playing 10 despite him waering the number on his shirt? Add to that the emergence of Ramsey, the return of Cazorla, and the seamless reintegration of Flamini. He’s no longer looking a likely no.1 midfield maestro at Arsenal any time soon and frankly for the first time in his young career he really needs to compete even to start. Just wait till Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Podolski return!!! There’s a fine line with squad depth and player happiness. I’m confident in Wenger’s mind Wilshere is central to Arsenal’s future plans… but he’s in for a scrap. Good stuff – we’ll see how Jack responds.
4. Giroud, played well. He’s a guy where you have to accept his strengths and what he’s not. He’s not Henry or Anelka. I loved his shoulder-bodycheck to win the ball on the sideline.
5. Gibbs. Has really come on.
6. Funny game really.
Impact? A shame we lost, a draw would have maintained our run but more importantly stopped the likely criticism that the team doesn’t perform against top sides. This is the first setback after Villa. So that’s 12 games unbeaten until today. That’s good, very good. Whilst it’s true we haven’t played many top sides, the points gained and progression made are of exactly the same value. The only difference is the perception formed and extra confidence gained when you usurp a top team. Hopefully we bounce straight back, none of this 2-3 game mini-slump common of Wenger teams from yesteryear
I think Sagna as played pretty well this season Kiwi, to be honest…
and there were parts of the 2nd half we were pinging the ball around in very impressive fashion…
We were playing to win the game… and when you do that, against a team like Dortmund, there is always the chance they score against you…
back to reality… we’re good, but we still have to play well, to beat good teams.
very entertaining football match to watch… after a slow start, we came back well… had a good second half, but LEW snatched a win for Dortmund on the counter… he’s a great striker…
We played to WIN… I don’t mind at all, when we play that style…
and you didn’t really think we were going to be unbeaten the rest of the season, did you?
It would be pretty massive, if Arsenal managed a WIN today.
They would set them up nicely to advance in the CL, and take a lot of pressure off for the last 3 matches…