Arsenal provide hard evidence in case for Champions League defence

Arsène Wenger's team have a solidity at the back that United, City and Chelsea must wish they could summon themselves

As if it were not enough for Arsenal to beat Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday night and thus to win their Champions League group, they also received rare compliments for their fortitude. Arsène Wenger relished them. The value of defensive strength was underlined in a week when the other entrants from the Premier League floundered. Manchester United could not hold on to a 2-1 lead and drew with Benfica at home. Manchester City lost in Naples and Chelsea fell to a stoppage-time goal in Leverkusen.

The tournament, with such results to its credit, emerges triumphant. This is how the contest for a great prize ought to be conducted. There should be a mercurial quality to a competition that embraces a continent. The faltering of three English clubs in the Champions League could also assist in reviving fascination with the tournament in this country.

For the time being there is no sense that the group phase is just a dowdy passageway down which this country's better sides saunter on their way to a grand stage. City looked shaken by the unrelenting atmosphere that the Napoli supporters created in the Stadio San Paolo. That setting was admirably traditional and it hurled Roberto Mancini's players back to a time when they were all too aware of their vulnerability.

Each club is, of course, affected by specific factors. Chelsea, beaten at home by Liverpool at the weekend, did not need a midweek journey to face Bayer Leverkusen to show them that there is much amiss. Their manager, André Villas-Boas, appreciated the scale of the task when he took the job. There have been signings, yet the sense is of a squad in which some players are getting old, others are stale and some newly arrived youngsters are on the margins.

Jibes about David Luiz, an undoubtedly gifted footballer who is yet to turn into a trustworthy centre‑half, divert attention from other issues. John Terry is not playing at all well and the sudden cries for Alex to be given a role saw him come on in time to be culpable for Manuel Friedrich's winner. Chelsea are in need of rejuvenation but Villas-Boas might at least be granted a little spell of calm if his players can summon up even a trace of their once renowned defensive durability.

Clubs must fall short occasionally – in the 2005-06 season United were last in their group. The present woes, though, are common to three of England's four teams in the tournament. There is a fragility to them all. The goals-against statistics might seem sound enough for Chelsea but the four goals they have conceded in five games have cost them seven points.

Arsenal are not usually seen as obstinate defenders but they showed concentration and durability that denied Dortmund a goal until one came too late to make any difference. Wenger's team are still not celebrated for their stubbornness but late on Wednesday evening his thoughts turned, unprompted, to the qualifying matches for the Champions League earlier this season. Yes, Arsenal endured that 8-2 Premier League mauling at Old Trafford but before that they had beaten Udinese home and away while giving up only one goal.

It is incongruous to think of the present-day Arsenal side as intractable foes but their defensive record in this Champions League, with three goals conceded in the group stage, is superior to those of the other English clubs.

The troubles elsewhere are known. City were hard to break down last season in the Premier League but that glumness would not have been tolerated for long in view of the sums spent by the club's new owners. Mancini's men now have verve but the harrowing of their defence by Edinson Cavani will make them look for greater resistance in midfield at this level.

United's concerns are obvious. Although Phil Jones may evolve into the new centre-half they will soon need, his own-goal that put Benfica ahead after three minutes at Old Trafford was baffling. At 19 he has plenty of time in which to develop but it is obvious at the moment why he is more often used as a full-back or a defensive midfielder.

City, United and Chelsea, particularly when the last named were charging to 103 Premier League goals in the 2009-10 season, can thrill and entertain. Even so, Arsenal, despite their aesthetic appeal, have recently served up an unlikely reminder that resilience and a tinge of tedium are essential now and again.

Source: Kevin McCarra, The Guardian on 24 Nov 11

Robin van Persie double against Dortmund gives Arsenal group win

Arsenal ended this night in a state of tranquillity. The match was hard-fought, but Arsène Wenger's team have reached the last 16 of the Champions League with a match to spare. It must be quite a while since Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City all envied them. There is further satisfaction in clinching first place in a group that has Borussia Dortmund at its foot.

The Bundesliga side, hampered in particular by the loss of the coveted youngster Mario Götze with a knee injury in the first half, have inherited the sort of anxiety that saturated Arsenal not so long ago. All seems transformed for the club now, even if there is still a challenging task on the domestic front. This game at least shows that Arsenal could count on their fortitude as well as Robin van Persie's goals, which took his total for the club in 2011 to 33. Wenger called the strike-rate "exceptional", an adjective he employed about other facets of the game, too.

The victors can revel in the outcome, but also in a little series of happy occurrences. Abou Diaby, absent since the spring because of injury and then surgery, was on the pitch as a substitute when Van Persie turned in his second goal of the game from a Thomas Vermaelan header at a corner kick in the 86th minute. With the lead extended, Arsenal could afford to be indifferent when Shinji Kagawa struck in stoppage time for Dortmund.

Nothing dented the manager's contentment afterwards. "I am happy and pleased when you think where we have come from, when we played Udinese in the qualifier," he said of the challenges and, in the Premier League, early miseries of the campaign. There was an opportunity for him to sympathise with Manchester City, if not patronise them for their worries in the tournament. "It's difficult at that level," he remarked.

Wenger's side were not especially streamlined against Dortmund, a club of substance who won at Bayern Munich last Saturday but have to tolerate being at the bottom of Group F. Unpredictability might have been anticipated, but the match did not teem with incident. Dortmund most likely reckoned that one part of their plan had been effective since they had sustained no damage before the interval, apart from the harm done in the enforced substitution of the young midfielder Sven Bender, as well as Götze. Bender will have an operation in London this morning on a broken jaw.

Jürgen Klopp's side regrouped to open the second half purposefully, but the flurries around the Arsenal penalty area quickly gave way to an opener for Wenger's men. As if relief were not enough there was also delight to the breakthrough in the 49th minute, with Alex Song, nominally a defensive midfielder, bursting between Sebastian Kehl and Lukasz Piszczek before crossing towards the far post, where Van Persie put his team in front with a downward header. "Song did something exceptional for a defensive midfielder," said a grateful manager.

Wenger may not be the incendiary type, but there had still been far more fire in that move than seen in the opening 45 minutes. Arsenal could have extended the lead after an hour but Gervinho, having gone clear on Aaron Ramsey's through ball, attempted to run past the goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller and so allowed the covering Felipe Santana the opportunity to concede only a corner.

Arsenal find it all but impossible not to tantalise their supporters. The trait was of benefit to a Dortmund line-up that showed intent for much of the half. Wenger's side had no such urgency to impel them and it looked, on occasion, as if they reckoned on catching the visitors on the break. Regardless of the means employed, Arsenal were still on course for the last 16.

It is a demonstration of the strides taken when there can be quibbling about the approach. Wenger, after all, has too often heard that the emphasis on aesthetics has come at the expense of impact. In that respect, Arsenal will be overjoyed to step out of character and into the knockout stage of the Champions League.

Source: Kevin McCarra, The Guardian on 23 Nov 11

Striking talent makes Robin van Persie Arsenal's man for all the season

Arsenal's Dutch master continues to light up both domestic and European stages with another irresistible performance

There was some worrying talk last week that Robin van Persie was "in the red". The phrase has taken on a sort of infamy at Arsenal after Arsène Wenger used it to describe Jack Wilshere's condition towards the end of last season. The midfielder's statistics, he said, indicated that he was on the brink of injury and, therefore, he should not play at the European Under-21 Championship. Wilshere has, indeed, subsequently broken down.

Van Persie is no stranger to injury, and, particularly not, those picked up on international duty and so when he linked up with Holland Wenger might have feared the worst, especially as his numbers showed that he was not in top condition. Wenger begged Bert van Marwijk, the Holland coach, not to play his striker in the friendly against Germany last week.

In what felt like a rare illustration of an international manager willingly doing what Wenger wants, Van Marwijk left Van Persie out of the 3-0 defeat. The Dutchman returned to sink Norwich City on Saturday and here he continued his remarkable year with the goals that propelled Arsenal into the last 16 of the Champions League for the 11th season in succession. He has now scored 38 goals in 41 games in all competitions for his club in 2011. Van Persie is simply in clover.

"Having a little rest can give you an extra five or 10% in a game," Van Persie said. "I'm not saying that playing against Germany would have seen me get injured, but sometimes players can drop after an international break. Wesley Sneijder played in that game, for example, but he wasn't fit to play for Internazionale at the weekend."

Van Persie's presence in the starting line-up had represented a tonic, as he had been used only as a substitute in the club's previous two home ties in the competition, and it was also a declaration of Wenger's intent. The soundness of his decision to rest Van Persie against Marseille at the beginning of the month had been questioned, with even Wenger admitting after the 0-0 draw that it had backfired. He wanted no scope for regret here.

It is only when you watch Van Persie live that you fully appreciate the menace and sharpness of his movement. Mats Hummels of Dortmund constantly saw him dropping into the space behind and, in the 12th minute, he rose to loop a header goalwards from André Santos's cross. Before the interval, Van Persie was thwarted when Roman Weidenfeller reached out an arm to claw Theo Walcott's devilish cross away from him, and the Dutchman was denied again by Marcel Schmelzer's saving tackle. Dortmund dared not lapse, but they could not keep him out. Who can at the moment?

Van Persie's opening goal owed everything to some mercurial wing play but it came not from the one of the club's jinking forwards, rather the hulking figure of Alex Song. His fleetness of foot to dart in between Sebastian Kehl and Lukasz Piszczek took the breath and his cross invited Van Persie to do what Van Persie does.

The header carried too much punch for Weidenfeller – perhaps the goalkeeper, like the rest of the stadium, was still aghast at Song's skill – while, the second was thrashed home from close range late on.

Song was the man of the match but in front of the watching Thierry Henry and Roger Federer, two men who, according to the advertising executives, know a bit about cutting edge, Van Persie provided it.

Source: David Hytner, The Guardian on 23 Nov 11

Van Persie proves his worth again

Emirates Stadium was almost deserted as Roger Federer and Thierry Henry stood pitchside, obliging the final autograph hunters and posing for pictures.

The sporting superstars had brought a touch of A-List sporting celebrity to Arsenal's Champions League meeting with Borussia Dortmund - and were able to show their appreciation for another master of his craft in the shape of Robin van Persie.

The schedule of the ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 Arena allowed Federer to indulge his passion for football, while Henry was back at his former club as he takes a break from duties with New York Red Bulls.

And while Federer and Henry have graced some of sport's greatest stages, they were very much the support act on Wednesday night as the 28-year-old Van Persie continued a remarkable sequence of form with the goals that put Arsenal into the knockout stages of the Champions League yet again.

The Dutchman once again emphasised why he has become close to a priceless commodity for the Gunners by taking his goals tally to 38 in 41 matches this year.

So it was with a sense of inevitability that Van Persie obliged with a triumph of technique and heading ability to put the home side ahead after 49 minutes before showing his poacher's instinct with a close-range second to confirm Arsenal's win.

It was not vintage Arsenal. It was not even vintage Van Persie as his opener owed much to the persistence and quality of Alex Song, who set up his team-mate with a fine driving run and cross from the left.

But such is Van Persie's current quality and confidence that he was always the prime candidate if anyone was going to deliver the decisive moments Arsenal needed.

It turned out to be an evening of unblemished satisfaction for Arsenal and manager Arsene Wenger. With the priority of qualification achieved thanks to a 2-1 win over German rivals Dortmund, news filtered through that Marseille had lost at home to Olympiakos to put the Gunners top of Group F with just one round of games to go.

Not only can Arsenal watch in relative relaxation as Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United try to qualify, they can do so safe in the knowledge they will avoid the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Bayern Munich in the next round.

Riches indeed for a team and manager that had to navigate a dangerous qualifier against Italians Udinese before suffering a dreadful start to the Premier League season, a start that included the abject humiliation of an 8-2 defeat at Manchester United.

It would be folly to suggest Arsenal's ills are cured. The Gunners, like Chelsea, City and United, have not produced a body of evidence yet that suggests they might win the Champions League, while their defence remains vulnerable.

But these are problems for another day. None of us who have criticised Arsenal should now shy away from admiring how Wenger and his players have started to turn their campaign around. The recovery is in its infancy but results alone are testimony to a squad that looked in danger of meltdown a few weeks ago.

Wenger certainly looks happier than the tortured figure he cut back in August when he searched for reinforcements following the departures of Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy, among others.

The Frenchman is back on an even keel and used his programme notes to underscore his bond with the club, saying: "Arsenal is the club of my life. I have a contract that I will honour and the only way I would one day consider that position is if I feel I am not doing well enough for the club. My commitment and love for this club is completely total."

This will please Arsenal fans greatly, perhaps even those who wavered recently, but one more declaration of commitment from Van Persie may delight them even more.

Until he agrees a new contract, his form will place him on the radar of every top club in Europe. For all the improvement, it is still Van Persie who lifts Arsenal to a level they would find difficult to attain without him.

Arsenal simply cannot afford to lose the striker, a message you suspect Wenger will be delivering to his board in terms they very clearly understand.

Such is Van Persie's importance that an audible murmur swept around the stadium when he was knocked to the ground in the second half, quickly followed by relief when he got to his feet again.

It is not only Van Persie's game that is maturing. He is also showing a greater understanding of his physical needs as well as a greater appreciation of his team-mates.

Van Persie was generous in his praise of Song before the game, saying: "I really see him going from strength to strength right now. He's getting better with every game and it is a joy to play with him."

And so it proved as Song, as he did at Norwich, created the goal for the striker that finally allowed Arsenal to exert their authority.

As for his conditioning, Van Persie revealed that a study of his physical statistics, involving discussions with Wenger, physiotherapist Colin Lewin and fitness coach Tony Colbert, pointed towards the need to rest when the Netherlands played Germany last week - a request generously accepted by Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk.

"Having a little rest can give you an extra five or 10% in a game," said Van Persie. Playing that percentage game has brought the reward of two goals in the win at Norwich City and another double against Borussia Dortmund.

It also meant Van Persie added another accolade to his collection by ensuring his deeds achieved the feat of putting Federer and Henry firmly in the shade.

Arsenal simply cannot afford to be without the Dutchman.

Source: Phil McNulty, BBC Sport on 24 Nov 11

Gunners soar with expectation lowered

The prospect of Arsene Wenger's team becoming the first Premier League side to qualify for the last-16 of the Champions League seemed inconceivable as they stumbled through the first six weeks of this season, yet that is what they managed to achieve with this fine win against the reigning German champions.

In fact, such was the depth of their despair that those who had cheekily tipped Arsenal to end their seven-year trophy drought by finishing third in Group F and going on to lift the Europa League may have wondered whether they had been a little ambitious in backing a team apparently in terminal decline to reach such 'heady' heights so soon.

Now, after the agony of that horrible 8-2 defeat at Manchester United and what was arguably an even more desperate afternoon that ended in a 4-3 loss against lowly Blackburn at Ewood Park, Arsenal find themselves delighting in a run of form that is being celebrated by supporters whose optimism is slowly edging upwards once again.

In many ways, the slump in expectations inspired by that early season misery has removed all the pressure from Arsenal, with supporters who had written off this campaign as one that would produce little more than agony daring to believe anything and everything is possible once again.

Skipper Robin van Persie was their matchwinner once more, with the Dutchman's two goals taking his tally to a remarkable 38 goals in his last 41 games. A one-man team maybe, but if that man is RVP then throwing all your eggs into his basket is a wise move.

Still, Arsenal took their time to click into gear against a Dortmund side who threatened to offer a potent threat to their hopes in a closely contested and somewhat dour first half. The Germans may well have edged them in the early exchanges, even though they lost Mario Gotze after half an hour with a knee injury, with their magnificent travelling supporters chanting their way through what proved to be a final night on their Champions League travels. Bouncing and clapping in impressive unison, the yellow-shirted travelling hordes were the stars of the first half.

Kicking towards their fanatical followers in the second, Shinji Kagawa had a chance to hand Dortmund a flying start when he sliced through the Arsenal defence and was denied by a smart save from Wojciech Szczesny, yet it was to be their final chance to claim the win they needed to keep their qualification hopes on track.

Uncharacteristic skill saw Alex Song burst past four players to free himself brilliantly on the left flank and stand up a cross that picked out Van Persie at the back post. Inevitably, the form striker in European football made the most of his first chance of the evening as his head was placed perfectly to find a way past Dortmund keeper Roman Weidenfeller.

Van Persie's second in the closing stages added icing to the Arsenal cake and Kagawa's last-gasp consolation counted for little on a night when finding flaws in the Arsenal make up were not necessary. This was a moment for Wenger to gloat in his achievement of sparking a comeback from the brink of his previously unthinkable demise and he did just that as he met the media.

"We were drawn in a difficult group and when you consider the place we were in at the start of this journey, it's remarkable that we find ourselves qualified with a game to spare," said a perfectly-groomed Wenger. "You would not have been wise to bet too much money on us being in this position when we were struggling against Udinese in a play-off a few weeks ago, but we have worked hard to be here."

His praise of talisman Van Persie was typically fulsome; he believes the burden of the captaincy has helped rather than hindered his mental approach to the game. "Robin is a guy who focuses completely on football in his life," he suggested. "He thinks about it night and day and I always believed he could help to turn our season around. He is on an amazing scoring run at this moment and the goals are coming for him without even needing to think."

Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp spoke of his side's 'lack of application in the final third' and lamented the early loss through injury of Sven Bender and Mario Gotze, but the truth was his side had not fought hard enough to maintain their Champions League hopes for this season. 'Must do better' would be the epitaph of their return to Europe's biggest stage.

As for the new-look Arsenal, well they may be relying a little too heavily on Van Persie and it is impossible to ascertain at this point whether this brief run of success can be converted into genuine success in the next few months, but at least Wenger and his troops have navigated a way out of the dark hole they fell into at the start of this season.

All involved are relieved to be glimpsing some shafts of light once again.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Alex Song
Song deserved to claim this honour thanks to his moment of magic on the flank that set up Van Persie for his opener. The dribble that preceded his pinpoint cross was delightful.

ARSENAL VERDICT
Their steady progress shows no sign of waning and with their Champions League commitments all but complete for the next three months, they can focus on their pursuit of a top-four finish in the Premier League. They could just be about to defy their critics and achieve that feat.

DORTMUND VERDICT
A decent first half fizzled out for the visitors who failed to make the most of the half chances that came their way. Their heads seemed to drop after Van Persie's first goal and they will have to beat Marseille 4-0 and hope Arsenal beat Olympiakos to secure progress.

THOMAS THE TANK
The return to fitness of Thomas Vermaelen has given an quick fix to an Arsenal defensive line that looked incapable of keeping out a balloon coming in their direction at half a mile an hour a few weeks ago. They will face sterner tests than Dortmund provided, but even the accident-prone Per Mertesacker looks more secure alongside the impressive Vermaelen.

Source: Kevin Palmer, ESPN Soccernet on 23 Nov 11

Wenger's reaction to the Arsenal 2-1 Borussia Dortmund match

on another Robin van Persie brace…
He is in a period where of course he doesn't have to look for goals - they just come naturally for him. He is always in the right place at the right moment and he got two goals again tonight from positions that look easy but they are not. He just understands the game so well.

on the match…
Overall it was a good game, Dortmund are a good team. They started stronger than we did but we needed to be patient, intelligent and I think in the second half we increased the tempo of our passing and controlled the game. Slowly you could feel that we could make the difference.

on conceding late…
This time it didn't make a difference. They scored because we lost our focus and concentration. Overall we controlled it well, our defence played well and they had very few chances. We knew the game was over and just became a bit too easy.

on qualifying…
The groups are difficult for the Premier League teams. The level in Germany has gone up a lot. We were in a difficult group and I am very happy and pleased if you see where we came from. We drew Udinese in the qualifier and you could not bet that we could go like we did. Overall I am very happy because we came out from a very difficult period because we were focused, worked hard and were united together.

on being the first English team to qualify…
Manchester United could have qualified last night and of course everybody expected Man City to qualify but we are the first team. It's difficult at this level against anybody - you never win an easy game in the Champions League. I have played 150 games as a manager in the Champions League and every single game gives you a different problem.

on Alex Song's performance…
I was complaining for a long time that we did not score enough goals from set-pieces. So I am very pleased that we did tonight. But I still think we have some room for improvement. But I agree with you completely that Song was exceptional for a defensive midfielder with the first goal. I am pleased for him because we had quite a difficult start in midfield in the first half and we took over in the second half.

on the threat of injury to Van Persie…
At the moment I believe that Robin is an exceptional player. He takes advantage of our offensive style from the wings. We create a lot of chances but I don't deny that at the moment he is the one who scores all the goals. We hope we can keep him fit and with us for a long time.

on what he saw in him for the captaincy…
What I saw in him is that he speaks his mind, he is completely focused on football and thinks day and night about the game. He is completely dedicated. It is not always obvious to put a striker as captain because he is in front of everybody. He was vice captain last year and was then captain while Fabregas was out.

on Gervinho's form…
He is vital for us because Robin likes to go to the ball and Gervinho likes to go into the space so they always push defenders back. That gives us space in midfield to create for Robin. He was a bit less sharp tonight but overall I am very happy.

on Mertesacker's performance…
I thought he had a great game tonight. I tried to analyse his performance against Norwich and I felt he was more tired from the Germany game against Holland. He didn't make bad decisions but his reaction time was not right. It was more down to fatigue.

Source: Arsenal.com on 23 Nov 11

23 November 2011: Arsenal 2-1 Borussia Dortmund, The Emirates

Arsenal marched into the Knockout Stages of the Champions League for the 12th successive season after a hard-fought 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday.

As usual, the goals came courtesy of Robin van Persie. The first from a magnificent assist by Alex Song, the second via Thomas Vermaelen’s flick-on.

Dortmund began on the offensive and retained their intensity throughout. However, while Wojciech Szczesny’s goal was under scrutiny all evening, he barely made a significant save. Shinji Kagawa’s consolation only came from the last kick of the game.

This victory, and Marseille’s defeat, means Wenger’s side have secured top spot in Group F. Their failure to achieve that last season came back to haunt them in the Round of 16.

Who knows how strong this Arsenal side could be by the time that is played in mid-February? But their ascent is steep right now and it is heartening to see them defeat different opposition in different ways.

This was a clever, controlled victory over a quality side. It means Arsenal have eight wins and a draw in their last nine matches.

They are the real deal – as Europe may just find out in 2012.

This had been billed as the clash of the form sides from their respective leagues – a far cry from the situation when they had shared that draw in Germany on Matchday One.

Wenger sprung, if not a surprise, then a rarity – an unchanged side. But then his team has regained some of their previous panache at Carrow Road on Saturday. They would need it all against a side who had won 1-0 at Bayern Munich on Saturday, partly by going in the offensive when they were under pressure.

Coach Jurgen Klopp was always capable of the counter-intuitive. And his side would attack from the off this evening and dominate the opening half.

Robert Lewandowski nipped through in the opening seconds only to be beaten to the ball by Szczesny. Kagawa then stretched the keeper with a shot from range.

Arsenal were on the backfoot – an alien position for them in the past couple of months.

Their brightest moment of the half was when Theo Walcott was released on the right after 20 minutes. Unfortunately for Arsenal, keeper Roman Weidenfeller raced out to snatch the ball.

Lewandowski crashed an effort inches wide from distance midway through the half.

By now, Arsenal had capped Dortmund’s early insistence. Their balance was not helped by the loss of Sven Bender and the highly-rated Mario Gotze in the first half-hour.

Only in the shadow of the half-time whistle did Arsenal seem to have real control.

The opening period had been characterised by a Dortmund player in acres of space running at backtracking Arsenal defenders.

It many ways it had been a strange half – high on pace and danger, low on notable chances. But Arsenal had held parity.

Dortmund conjured up their clearest couple of chances in the opening two minutes of the second half.

First, a cross from Lukasz Piszczek deflected dangerously across the face of goal and Per Mertsacker had to sweep the ball away at the far post.

Then Kagawa burst through down the right flank before forcing a solid save from Szczesny at the near post.

Arsenal seemed under serious threat but, in response, they managed to produce a match-turning moment.

Ramsey tried to burst through but, crowded out, he prodded the ball back to Song just inside the Dortmund half. The midfielder outpaced his marker down the left and then ghosted between two more defenders before clipping cross to Van Persie at the far post. The Dutchman headed home his 16th goal of the season and, with it, Arsenal placed one foot in the Knockout Stages.

Stunning.

On the hour, their place should have been secure when Ramsey sent Gervinho clear. His dummy fooled keeper Weidenfeller but Mats Hummel thieved the ball as the Ivorian looked set to score.

Dortmund needed to equalise to stay in the competition and, as they had been attacking all night, you knew what was coming.

Arsenal might have profited when Song lead a breakaway charge and Walcott rifled a shot just wide.

The Dortmund pressure continued but the hosts had them contained. After Abou Diaby made his return from injury, they settled any late nerves when Van Persie swept home after Vermaelen flicked on a corner from Arteta.

Kagawa reduced the arrears with the last kick of the game.

It mattered only to Arsène Wenger and the statisticians as it ending a spell of five and a half hours without conceding a Champions League goal.

However, Arsenal were already assured top spot in Group F.

Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 23 Nov 11

If That Is Arsenal’s Strongest Team Then We Really Are In Trouble

Dominated for large parts of the game in Dortmund and flattened by a late equaliser, it seems Wenger's consistent inability to deal with Arsenal's deficiencies has come home to roost...

Given the recent run of results for Arsene Wenger’s men, a 1-1 draw in their first Champions League match away to German champions Borussia Dortmund is unfortunately one of the more creditable performances this season. And while Arsenal showed fight, team spirit, and resolve in abundance up until Ivan Perisic’s 88th minute wonder strike earned the Bundesliga side a point at their home ground, their failure to close the deal showcases why this Arsenal side cannot consider themselves a genuine Premier League and European contender. The prolonged departure sagas of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri demoralised the squad, and even a last day spending spree from Arsene Wenger still sees Arsenal with a more threadbare and youthful, inexperienced side than ever under Wenger, one unable to challenge for top honors like in the past.

While undoubtedly of great potential, the simple reality is that the likes of Emmanuel Frimpong, Johan Djorou, Carl Jenkinson, Kieran Gibbs, and recently departed players like Denilson and Nicklas Bendtner wouldn’t feature nearly as much at Old Trafford, the San Siro, or the Bernabeu as they have at the Emirates. Ferguson and Villas-Boas have the likes of Berbatov and Anelka, or Carrick and Malouda, to call on, not Marouane Chamakh and Francis Coquelin. Even more worrying is the fact that the side so outplayed by Dortmund, who tallied 23 shots and 57% of possession, is perhaps the strongest one possible for the club in the near future given that Thomas Vermaelen and Jack Wilshere remain injured.

Yossi Benayoun and Mikel Arteta add crucial experience and skill in the midfield, and Per Mertesacker should help to shore up a defence that has been criminal at times in recent years. Brazilian fullback Andre Santos will also provide competition for relatively untested Kieran Gibbs at left back. Wojciech Szczesny has solidified his place as the number one goalkeeper and will surely hold his position between the sticks for a long time, with the Polish stopper showing confidence far beyond his 21 years.

But it seems the hallmark of champions is the ability to grind out results despite a lacklustre performance a la Inter’s heroic defeat of Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals in 2010, or Manchester United’s unlikely comeback win over West Brom in Gary Neville’s last match, subpar performances that still yielded the needed result.

Arsenal finally looked a side capable of doing the business even on an off day, with Robin Van Persie’s strike a potential stepping stone to confidence and belief after a rough start to the campaign, with questions surrounding the team’s ability to finish in the top four and the manager’s grasp of the plot. But the disappointment of yet another late equalizer to throw away all three points has become a hallmark of the side in recent years, and it seems to suggest that Golden Generation Wenger has promised so long is simply not up to the pressure of delivering trophies.

Blow after blow to the collective psyche- the Carling Cup heartbreak, the Barcelona eliminations, the 4-4 draw with Newcastle, and the most recent thrashing at the hands of Sir Alex’s squad are the main highlights of a horror reel that seems to have put the attitude beyond repair. When it begins to go bad against Arsenal, it seems anything that can go wrong, will, and the players panic. The new additions will do their part to settle the side, and the youth injection may unearth future leaders in the way Wilshere and Szczesny have been able to contribute significantly immediately.

Wenger’s reluctance to address key issues in the past few seasons has weakened the squad to the point that the title returning to North London seems an outlandish dream, and the Champions League group stages even looked suspect at one point. Progress from the group stages is surely possible, and only four matches into the season it is impossible to say that Arsenal will not have the quality to qualify for the Champions League for another consecutive year. But what once seemed an string of unlucky coincidences has transformed into a clear pattern of failures when it matters most, with no end in sight.

Source: Andrew McCarten, The Sabotage Times on 13 Sep 11

Arsenal hold nerve in Champions League draw with Borussia Dortmund

Arsenal may have been dispirited by conceding an equaliser in the 88th minute but that is a setback to be treasured after what had gone before this season. While it would be entirely false to pretend that they were implacable and secure throughout, the visiting team very nearly held on to their 1-0 lead. It took a perfect left-foot volley from the substitute Ivan Perisic to deny them.


There is no cause to be maudlin and Arsenal can be glad that good work by their goalkeeper, Wojciech Szczesny, ensured that a fine Borussia Dortmund side were denied a victory at the opening of the Champions League group phase. In view of the win over Udinese in the away leg of the qualifier it must be noted that there is spirit in this squad no matter how much they suffered against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

An 8-2 trouncing is not recommended but the least that can be said of Arsenal is that they have been intent on regaining respectability. They did rather more than that here. As matters stand, though, there can be no bragging and Pat Rice, in charge because of Arsène Wenger's touchline ban, was full of compliments for a Dortmund side that squandered almost all of its chances.

"It was like playing us," he said, referring to the slickness of the opposition. "Now we know what it is like whenever we are on form. We stuck to it well. It was extremely strange not having the manager next to me. Usually he is shouting in my ear: 'Why did he do this? Why did he do that?' It has never been one of my ambitions to be the manager, it is too stressful for me."

Rice blamed the earlier upheaval over the uncertainty about the future of footballers such as Cesc Fábregas and Samir Nasri, who did leave the club, but he also strove to hail the newcomers. "We have acquired very good players, contrary to what some people say, and no doubt they will show it, and the team will show it, in the games to come."

Arsenal would have craved such a result beforehand but now it comes as a mild disappointment. Even so, Szczesny had to be sharp in preventing irreparable damage in the final moments of the night. This overall was a Champions League battle that will have pleased Wenger's players in certain respects and it implied improvement to come.

The evening inaugurated another Champions League season but there was nothing tentative about the opening. Roman Weidenfeller was soon saving from Gervinho, with Kevin Grosskreutz firing high over the bar for Dortmund shortly after.

In that spell Bacary Sagna had also cleared a Robert Lewandowski effort from the goal-line. Regardless of the state of either squad or the instructions that had been given, this is a wonderful and clamorous ground that virtually insists on incident.

In Mario Götze Dortmund have a midfielder who looks as if he might cause panic at any moment. Yet the telling last touch did not come readily for either side. When Lukasz Piszczek crossed from the right in the 39th minute, for example, Lewandowski was too far out to apply the sort of force that would have made his header more of a concern to Szczesny.

The gaps could not go unexploited indefinitely, though, and when Theo Walcott linked with Robin van Persie three minutes later the Dutchman had ample space and his shot was too firm to be denied.

It would be wrong to pretend that a match of this order could be kept under perfect control but the action was unlikely to retain a frenzied tone for the entire game. There was relative order for a time as Arsenal at least looked as if they had begun to think about consolidating. That calmness did not prevent Gervinho from bursting clear of the defence but Weidenfeller blocked his effort.

The eventual substitutions by Dortmund spoke more of the strain they were under and the necessity of relieving it. Arsenal's introduction of the combative and promising Emmanuel Frimpong for Walcott was the act of a club yearning to take the vitality out of the fixture. This was not an occasion when either side could dictate play but the tale of the evening appealed to Arsenal as it moved closer to an ending.

A small anti-climax lay before them but it did not feel as if the side was devastated to have succumbed to a leveller in those last few moments. There is much for Arsenal still to do but it is beyond dispute that this was a result to be appreciated. A draw away to Dortmund should always be prized.

Source: Kevin McCarra, The Guardian on 13 Sep 11

Arsenal's new boundaries all too evident against Borussia Dortmund

Despite its last-gasp nature the point gained in Germany will ultimately be seen as a good result by Arsène Wenger

Talk to the football fan on the street in England about Europe's super-clubs and the chances are that Borussia Dortmund will not merit a mention. Bayern Munich will normally be advanced as Germany's representative, as the discussion incorporates the rival powers of Spain, England and Italy.

Dortmund tend to exist under the radar in England, which is a curiosity, to say the least. This is a club whose raucous home stadium regularly holds a shade over 80,000 for Bundesliga matches, one that has a Champions League trophy in their cabinet and can, these days, also resist big-money inquiries for their marquee player.

Perhaps their toils in recent seasons, although not the last one, and their subsequent placement in the bottom pot of seeds for the Champions League draw, fired the sense of them being some breed of underdog. The reality, as everybody at Arsenal knew, was different and it brought context, on more than one level, to the London club's opening steps in their 14th consecutive group phase campaign.

Arsenal are living within new boundaries. There will remain a section at the Emirates Stadium who believe it is a divine right for their club to number among the favourites for the major trophies but, after the turmoil of the summer months, expectations have been revised. It always seemed that anything gained here would be a bonus and so the draw, despite the last-gasp cruelty, represented credibility and, possibly, a corner turned.

The feeling, as articulated by the assistant manager, Pat Rice, was that the Dortmund substitute Ivan Perisic could "try that 35 or 40 times and he would hit it wide" rather than sumptuously pick out the top corner. Nobody can legislate for such individual brilliance and Arsène Wenger's pump of the fists at full-time told its own story.

Strong personalities had been required in an atmosphere that assaulted the senses, even though the capacity was some 15,000 down due to Uefa's regulations over standing areas. Dortmund would have been goals to the good if Kevin Grosskreutz, Shinji Kagawa and Robert Lewandowski had demonstrated greater composure in the early running but most of the initial quality came from them.
Arsenal clung on – their defence was in disarray for the first half-hour – and yet, it was they who led at the interval. Sebastian Kehl's error was grisly; Theo Walcott fed Robin van Persie to exact the punishment. Dortmund's young players felt a sucker punch to the guts.

Kagawa was excellent while Mario Götze showed why he is one of the continent's most highly rated young talents. The 19-year-old is blessed with a mesmeric touch and his tricks drew the breath. Arsenal had inquired during the summer about the attacking midfielder and there were reports of a €40m (£36.6m) price tag. Dortmund would not sell for any money.

Van Persie's ice-cool finish fortified Arsenal, just as his vital effort from closer range had done in the play-off second leg at Udinese. Rather abruptly, Arsenal were transformed, and the confidence flowed back. It was encouraging to see Wenger's players strut their stuff for periods, having refused to go under in what amounted to a first-half storm. Van Persie's was a captain's performance while Bacary Sagna, Alex Song and Wojciech Szczesny emerged with honours.

Wenger had, on Monday, laid out the simple equation for qualification to the last 16: win the home ties and try to grab something on the road. Arsenal did that and they could portray the point, with some justification.

Source: David Hytner, The Guardian on 13 Sep 11

Pat Rice's reaction to the Borussia Dortmund 1-1 Arsenal match

on whether Arsenal were unfortunate not to win the game…
We battled really hard and we knew it would be a hard, hard game. To be able to defend well is a high-quality skill and that is something all of our players did this evening. I shouldn't think many teams will come to Dortmund and beat them and we were very, very close to doing that.

on Robin van Persie’s goal…
It is nothing unusual to see Robin do something like that. It was a great run from Robin and it was also a terrific ball through [from Theo]. It is unusual to see Robin hit it with his right foot but it proves that he is not just a left-footed footballer.

on the captain’s leadership…
Robin is obviously the Club captain and we encourage him to be verbal both on the park and also off it, especially in the dressing room. He was just asking me one or two things that he thought we could have done better and I was just saying one or two things that we could actually do to make the team better.

on withstanding a lot of first-half Dortmund pressure…
As I said before, to actually defend well is a high-quality skill and our players did it very, very well. Don't forget Dortmund are a really good side, there is no question about that. Would we liked to have won the game? Of course we would, we were so close to it and so very, very near. But the same thing happened to us as when we played Tottenham and the boy [Danny] Rose hit and unbelievable shot from about 35 yards. It was the same this evening. I should imagine that he could try that 25, 30, 40 times and he would hit it over the bar or at the goalkeeper. It was a great goal.

on whether Dortmund’s style made it like playing against Arsenal…
Yeah, very, very much so. Now we know what it is like whenever we are or form! But, as I say, our lads stuck to it well. It was a very hard game, as you could see. When Gervinho went through, the game could have been over if he had stuck it in the back of the net. So, really and truthfully, a point apiece was a good result.

on a strange situation without manager Arsène Wenger…
First of all, it was extremely strange not having the manager next to me because usually he is shouting in my ear: 'why did he do that?' and 'why didn't he do that?'. Did I like it? Not really, no. It has never been one of my ambitions to be the manager of a football club. It is very strange. It is too stressful for me.

on two positive results after a difficult start to the season…
Very much so. It seems, especially the game on Saturday, it seemed to me personally that it was the start of our season. Because of the uncertainty as to whether players would leave us or whether they wouldn't. The players that we have acquired are very, very good players, contrary to what other people have said. I have no doubt that they will show it in the games to come.

on Per Mertesacker…
Per, from my point of view, is a terrific player. The amount of games he has played for the German national side means he cannot be a bad player. It is impossible. He is showing that gradually with us. I thought he was terrific tonight alongside Laurent Koscielny and I can only see him getting better and better when he gets used to the Premier League.

Source: Arsenal.com on 13 Sep 11

13 September 2011: Borussia Dortmund 1-1 Arsenal, BvB Station Dortmund

An 86th-minute equaliser from Ivan Perisic denied Arsenal victory at Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday night.

For the majority of this Champions League Group F opener, Arsène Wenger’s side looked like taking all three points back to North London.

They soaked up significant pressure from the Bundesliga champions in the opening stages but fought their way back into the game and grabbed an all-important goal three minutes before the break when Robin van Persie lashed home.

After that, Arsenal defended deeply and doggedly while Dortmund were pretty but without penetration. Wenger, watching in the stands due to his UEFA ban, may have smiled at the irony of it all.

In the end, Perisic’s strike was not one of the home side’s more fluent moves, it was a speculative effort excuted with excellent technique. But it was perhaps the only way this organised, efficient Arsenal defence were going to be beaten this evening.

And, if Wenger’s men are disappointed with a point in arguably their toughest Group game, then it augurs well for the European adventure ahead.

Before kick-off, Wenger’s main decision had seen him opt for experience and guile over youth and power. Yossi Benayoun made his debut in the hole behind Van Persie when the manager could have pushed up Mikel Arteta and brought in Emmanuel Frimpong alongside Alex Song.

Like Gervinho, the Cameroonian was back after serving out his domestic suspension. Like many, Theo Walcott had thought he was banned after picking up a couple of yellow cards in the two legs against Udinese. However all disciplinary points were wiped clean for the group stages and the Englishman began on the right.

The BVB Stadion was a sight to behold as the teams kicked off. Normally 80,000 fans help to create one of European football’s most intense atmospheres. The capacity was reduced tonight as, for the Champions League, seats had to be installed to replace some of the terracing. However this was still an imposing arena in which the decibel level rarely deteriorated - even when the visitors were in front.

The opening quarter of the game was like the crowd - raucous and lively. In the fifth minute, Van Persie’s half-blocked shot fell to Gervinho. The Ivorian hooked an effort goalwards but Roman Weidenfeller blocked.

Immediately, Dortmund replied. Shinji Kagawa was denied by Laurent Koscielny on the edge of the area but his tackle only nudged the ball to Robert Lewandowski. With Bacary Sagna sprawling to recover, the Pole spotted Kevin Grosskreutz on the left. The 23-year-old had time to select a corner but hoisted his effort high over the bar. Wasteful.

Kagwaga went through and did likewise in the ninth minute. It was a clear chance but not as clear as the one Lewandowski spurned shortly afterwards.

Mario Gotze robbed Kieran Gibbs and his clever flick sent the Polish striker skipping across the area, past Wojciech Szczesny, to leave himself a shot from a narrowing angle. Fortunately he could only pick out the backtracking Sagna, who booted his effort off the line.

As at Udinese in the Play-off, this was an open game - perhaps too open given its magnitude. But Jurgen Klopp’s young side had won the German title last season with a bright, brave passing game. Like Arsenal, it was they only football they knew.

The hosts continued to hold the upper hand even when the game calmed down and Arsenal obtained a greater grip.

The visitors carved out a chance in the 33rd minute when Benayoun’s first-time ball freed Van Persie on the left. He went for his shot early and Weidenfeller touched the ball behind at his near post.

But Dortmund were still the more imposing presence with right-back Lukasz Piszczek looking to get forward at every opportunity. In the 38th minute, one of his centres saw Lewandowski head into the hands of Szczesny.

However, ,Dortmund pressure, Arsenal pace, was the recipe for a goal on the counter. Although speed of thought - not feet - was behind the visitors’ strike three minutes before the interval.

Van Persie slid in to push Sebastian Kehl’s weak pass to Walcott in the centre circle. The Dutchman then got up and sprinted forward in hope of a throughball. Walcott was on the same wavelength and Van Persie raced through before unleashing a venomous shot past Weidenfeller.

Dortmund pushed forward once more at the start of the second half however, before the hour, the only noteworthy effort was Kagawa’s blocked drive.

Naturally, Arsenal had been settled by the goal and were happy to let the home side play their game in non-threatening areas. They knew there was always a chance to counter.

That nearly worked in the 59th minute when Van Persie’s raking ball forward was controlled by Gervinho on the edge of the area with only the keeper to beat. However he stumbled at the crucial moment and Weidenfeller blocked his toe-poke.

The chance was the exception, not the rule. Dortmund were pushing back Arsenal but the visitors were digging in defensively this evening. Koscielny and Mertesacker were clearing the aerial danger and the excellent Song was winning possession on the floor.

The latter’s tackle on Gotze midway through the second half, with the young German in full flow and bearing down on goal, was exquisite.

In one way Arsenal were doing to Dortmund what had been done to them with regularity in the past - defending cleverly and allowing the opposition to play their passing football in front of them but, crucially, allowing nothing to go through them.

The one time the visitors were stretched going forward Piszczek raced onto Gotze’s pass and flashed a ball across the face of goal.

However they were nearly breached nine minutes from the whistle when Gotze’s corner fell to Subotic five yards. His shot thumped in to the grateful arms of Szczesny, a foot either side and it was all-square.

It seemed like Dortmund were spent and Arsenal would hold on. But it is just not going that way for Wenger’s men at the moment. Four minutes from time, Marcel Schmelzer’s free-kick was headed clear by Gibbs and Perisic swung his left foot at it. The ball flew into the top corner past the stranded Szczesny. Incredible.

In the final minute of normal time, the keeper made a crucial save from Lewandowski to preserve a point.

But Arsenal were worth at least that this evening.

Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 13 Sep 11