Match Preview: Arsenal v Dortmund; Music made for the Champion’s League

I’ve seen more music metaphors about this match thrown around then crumpled music pages in Beethoven’s study. From Klopp’s “heavy metal” to Wenger’s “symphony,” whatever your tastes there is music stylings aplenty for you.

To me it comes down to “Rush” – take your pick. Limelight, Spirit of Radio, Tom Sawyer – each tune possess enough raw energy to encapsulate what this match means. The only hope is that somehow this doesn’t turn out to be a footballing rendition of Eric Satie’s Gymnopedes. Frankly, I’m not so sure that this is likely.

Both of these teams know how to play. From Arsenal’s posession game to Dortmund’s effectiveness on the counter, both teams have the ability for the moment. The match at the Emirates showed that as for the most part it was an equal affair with Arsenal growing in stature in the match and getting some fairly good chances only to have that potent German counter-attack nail it shut.

The Dortmund win made this group a little more harrowing as everyone but Marseille sit on 6 points. Dortmund and Arsenal still have to face off against Napoli and Marseille and in my opinion even a draw today makes the likelihood of these teams going through even stronger. They are still my favorites to pass through the group.

Arsenal are coming into this match off the heels of a stellar performance against Liverpool where they completely dominated the midfield to control the match against their nearest rival in the table. The win moved Arsenal 5 points clear in the table. Dortmund had as Wenger put it a “friendly” on Friday night with a 6-1. The win put further distance between Dortmund and Bayern and the rest of the Bundesliga.  Solidifying the two horse race the German league is.

It’s one of the reasons why I like Arsenal in this match. When you have to play every week and play at full potential there is no room for let offs. It prepares mentally and the approach to every game is locked in. In a league like the BL where there is very little in terms of challengers you can flitter from match to match with a laxidasical approach and be turned off for the big matches. Now, I am not saying that will be the case but you could argue it would be slightly easier for Arsenal to be mentally prepared than the German outfit.

But the Germans are at home against the backdrop of that wonderful home support. On the sporting portion of my bucket list is my desire to go to a Dortmund match and watch that support in its full throated glory. They are a sight to behold. That home support is going to be the energy that the Germans need so it is going to be imperative that Arsenal exert themselves on the match quickly.

Arsenal will see more fo the ball then the Germans, that much is known. However, this time Arsenal will have to be better prepared for the counter-attack ala the one that killed them at the Emirates. Mikel Arteta, Mertesacker and Koscielny will have to be wary about being too far forward when we are chasing a goal. Jurgen Klopp’s heavy metal is that counter-attack. It can be deafening when it hits you. And Arsenal can’t afford to be “naive.”

What Arsenal benefit from is having a fully fit Santi Cazorla available for this match up. He was fit but wasn’t ready the last time these two teams met. Dortmund swarmed out Özil cutting off our most creative player but now they will have to contend with two players who can make something out of nothing. Cazorla as we all know can swivel on a dime and get himself out of any jam. He also is highly effective with good through balls. And as we all know, Olivier Giroud can be a boss against a back line, getting on a through ball and giving Arsenal a chance at goal.

It’s another chance night of Glory and it is the best tie out of them all this week. Two teams equally matched and with their own strengths. The victor is the one that is tuned in more and has their music piped in over the other. Whilst, I am in favor of “heavy metal” at times, I love me a good symphony. Come on you Gunners!

Players to watch:
Arsenal. Oliver Giroud. Brimming with confidence, at this moment he can do no wrong. His ability to exploit space and create gaps within an opposition defense caused Dortmund issues before, it can do so again.

Dortmund. Robert Lewandowski. We warned of his ability last time and it proved deadly as he scored the goal that selaed the win for Dortmund at the Emirates.

Projected Lineups:
Arsenal: Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs;  Arteta, Ramsey, Rosicky;  Özil, Cazorla; Giroud

Dortmund: Weidenfeller; Grosskreutz, Subotic, Hummels, Durm; Sahin, Bender; Aubameyang, Mkhitaryan, Reus; Lewandowski

Arsenal Injuries and Suspensions:
Wilshire (ankle) Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee) Podolski (thigh) Walcott(stomach) Diaby(knee) Flamini (groin) Diaby (various)

Head to Head Tournament Stats:

Match Official:
Referee: Björn Kuipers (NED)
Assistant referees: Sander van Roekel (NED) , Erwin Zeinstra (NED)
Additional assistant referees: Pol van Boekel (NED) , Richard Liesveld (NED)
Fourth official: Angelo Boonman (NED)

Broadcast Information:
US: FoxSoccer 2 Go 2:45 PM EST

UK: Sky Sports 1 1945 GMT/20.45 CET

YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 2

Dortmund: 2

Match Facts (courtesy UEFA Press Kit:)

Arsenal faced two Bundesliga sides last season, losing 2-0 at home to FC Schalke 04 before drawing 2-2 away, and 3-1 against Bayern in the round of 16 first leg, going out on away goals despite a 2-0 success in Munich. The matchday three defeat by Dortmund made it three successive home losses against Bundesliga clubs.

Arsenal’s away record against German clubs is W4 D4 L5; overall it is W13 D5 L9.

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.

Manager’s Comments (courtesy UEFA)

Arsène Wenger, manager
Dortmund are a very good football team and so are Arsenal – so we should see a good symphony. We play to win everywhere. We have a positive attitude in our approach to the game.

Dortmund are a very positive side, we are a very positive side, so at least you have the guarantee that two teams will try to win the game. I don’t know if this will be a decisive match – it also depends what happens between Marseille and Napoli – but it is a very important match for us now, because we lost at home and now have to win the away games.

We try to win every away game, which gives us strength and motivation. We had a few problems at home, but I hope those are over given we won the Liverpool match. [Robert] Lewandowski is quite dangerous at home, but it is down to us to control the ball, that’s the best way to keep them quiet. We try to control the game and have the ball.

We want to do well in all competitions. The fact that we have five points’ edge in the Premier League does not mean we don’t want to be successful in the Champions League as well.

We maybe lost the first game because we wanted to absolutely win it at all costs and we exposed ourselves. It was a midfield battle and we got caught on the counterattack because we were all up front and were not happy with the draw. It will strengthen the resolve of my team to come out and show a different level.

Jürgen Klopp, coach

I don’t think it’s possible to surprise anyone at this level any more. If we find our game, that could also suit the way Arsenal play. But in the match in London there were also moments where they [Arsenal] did manage to find that tiny gap and where small things could have made a difference. Just think about the moment Santi Cazorla hit the bar. I am sure we will not be surprised by Arsenal’s quality and I don’t believe they will be surprised by us.

I don’t have the impression that Arsenal are more dangerous away from home than at their own stadium – they are strong home and away. I saw their match at Bayern München last season, it was tightly contested right to the finish. We spoke about this game in our dressing room, as it showed you have to stay focused all the time. How we cope with them depends on us. If they prove stronger away than they were at home then it will also have been down to us. When we bring our qualities on the pitch, it is certainly not easy to play us here.