Arsenal Vs Dortmund Preview & Live

Arsenal vs Dortmund
Wednesday 26th November 2014
Emirates Stadium


What's next?

Honestly can't be bothered writing anything about Arsenal. What is there? There is nothing there. There is nothing there. Nothing to say which we haven't all discussed to length before. We play Dortmund tomorrow which is more or less a defeat. Will most likely lose via the same way how we lost against United. To sum it all up, it's quite bleak and there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel. So what's next? I don't know. I guess 4th in the league will be better than nothing. I guess R16 exit will get us some good money. This is what Arsenal is all about now. Might as well live with it.

Won't go all depressing now though. I actually loved the way we played against United before we conceded. Thought it was the first time we got our defence and attack right. Good pressing and good passing. So I assume there will be a point somewhere when we will get a good run going and then we will see where we at. Let's hope that it starts tomorrow.

Team News

For Arsenal, Koscielny is back in training. Something tells me that he has been rushed due to defensive crisis so let's see. Wilshere out for 10 weeks confirmed. Walcott still out. Giroud not registered.

Dortmund have plenty of injury concerns themselves, and star man Marco Reus is ruled out with ankle ligament damage, which is set to keep him out for up to two months. Elsewhere in the team, Jurgen Klopp has worries over Sven Bender (hip), Jakub Błaszczykowski (thigh), Mats Hummels (foot), Oliver Kirch (thigh), Nuri Şahin (knee) and Sokratis Papastathopoulos (leg).

Arsenal Team

-------------------------Martinez---------------------------
Chambers-------Mertesacker------Monreal----------Gibbs
----------------Arteta---------Ramsey---------------------
Oxlade-----------------Cazorla------------------Sanchez
---------------------Welbeck--------------------------------

Dortmund Team

--------------------------Weidenfeller------------------------
Grosskreutz-------Subotic--------Ginter------------Schmelzer
------------------Bender------Gundogan------------------------
Auba--------------------Kagawa---------------------Henrikh
------------------------Immobile-------------------------------

Match Facts(FourFourTwo)

• These teams are battling for 1st place; if Dortmund avoid defeat they are guaranteed top spot.
  
• A draw or a win guarantees Arsenal’s progress to the round of last 16. Even a defeat would be enough if the other game ends as a draw.
  
• For the third time in a row Borussia Dortmund have qualified for the round of the last 16 in the Champions League.
  
• Dortmund, with 12 points and a goal difference of +12, have the second best record ever after four Matchdays in the group stages of the Champions League – only Juventus, in 1995/96, had a better record (only courtesy of scoring one goal more).
  
• Dortmund have won their last five matches in the Champions League – only from December 1996 to October 1997 have they had a longer run (eight wins).
  
• Only Galatasaray have managed to score against Dortmund in their last five matches.
  
• For the first time, Dortmund have scored at least twice in five consecutive games in the Champions League.
  
• With 13 goals scored in this year’s group stage, Dortmund have the second-best goal-tally after Shaktar Donezk (14 goals).
  
• Adrian Ramos scored with each of his three shots on target in the Champions League.
  
• Alexis Sanchez has scored two goals in this year’s CL-season, equaling his personal record of goals in a single season (2011/12 with FC Barcelona).
  
• Danny Welbeck celebrates his 24th birthday on the day of this match.
  
• Arsenal have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last seven matches of the Champions League.
  
• Arsenal’s last CL clean sheet was exactly a year ago: a 2-0-win over Olympique Marseille on the 26th November 2013.
  
• Arsenal’s Tomas Rosicky played five and a half seasons for Borussia Dortmund and won the German league in his first full season (2001/2002).
  

Final Say

Arsenal pls respond

Good work RG.

I really dont care anymore, but I wish the players repay the fans at home who pay big money to watch the game. Wenger needs to put Arsenal first and stop starting his favorites, Podolski, Rosicky and Joel should be getting minutes.

Santi and Ramsey have been garbage and not fair to others who dont get a chance. Its sad only way Wenger would rotate is when a player gets injured. You just know Wenger will try to prove a point and will screw up.

……………….Martinez……………..
Bellerin…Chambers…Per….Gibbs
……………………Arteta…………….
…………Ramsey…………………….
OX…………Rosicky…………Sanchez
………………Welbeck……………….

If any big team is in worse domestic waters than us, it's probably Dortmund. (Okay, Liverpool as well, but you know what I mean).

That hasn't stopped them from being majestic in Europe. We, unfortunately, have been more consistent in our mediocrity.

I think we will grab a win. Somethings gotta give. But I am worried about rushing Koscielny back.

We have a history of rushing players back who never get their form back. The season is over and rushing Koscielny is just another disaster waiting to happen.

Wenger would rather risk a long term injury then playing right players.

Dortmund, with 12 points and a goal difference of +12, have the second best record ever after four Matchdays in the group stages of the Champions League – only Juventus, in 1995/96, had a better record (only courtesy of scoring one goal more).

this says a lot.

First of all, how crap we are.
How crap the other teams in the group are, but we still have a poor points total so far.
And Dortmund haven't been all-that this season, but still have such a wonderful record in the group - further emphasises the points above.

Wenger, I personally feel that there’s a very strong bond inside the team and the club, and that this team will have a very strong season. I am ready to bet with you on that.'

Now we betting on Arsenal season. Another top4 trophy for Wenger.

Wenger“I believe in what I do and I especially believe in my players, and in their quality and spirit. I question myself every day.”

Kos is being rushed back into the squad.


Good news.

Ramsey“Maybe at the beginning, yes [I was trying too hard to score],” Ramsey said. “Now I've put that to the back of my mind and I’m focusing on other things. That will come naturally again.

Good work RG

Cant afford to drop any more pts in the league
and with WBA away on Saturday lunch time i wish Alexis and Chambo could be rested for this one

as i cant see anything other than 2nd place finish

as much i want us to win tomorrow

Sanogo could start

also not bothered with Szczensy's absence at all
at this point dont mind Martinez getting a run in the side til we Buy new Gk!!

Big game , we have gone 3 games without a win. A win here will give the team a big boost and a bit of confidence.The players gave a lot on Saturday, i can see us performing well then running out of steam in the first half. I just hope we take our chances when we are on top, need someone like Ox, Santi or Ramsey to score a goal just to give them a bit of confidence.

Just heard Sanogo might start





let's see. Might be able to hold up the ball for Sanchez if anything.

If Sanogo starts ahead of Joel and Podolski?

Joels only crimes is he was not born in France.

Happy with a draw but expect defeat.

Twoism wrote:Happy with a draw but expect defeat.

It will be 1-0 Arsenal and Wenger will send more men forward to finish off the game and Dortmund will score 2 goals in 90th and 92 to win the game.

I shall be there tonight lads, let's hope for a good result!!!

Wenger insists there is NO crisis at the Gunners

"When you are such a long time in football as I am, you don't understand any more what crisis means," he said. "I must get to the dictionary and look at it well again.

"You really think you can do 30 years in my job and not take criticism? If I couldn't take criticism I wouldn't be here any more."

It other news, it looks a Yaya Sanogoal will start for us.

Decided that I'm gonna watch this. What are both teams' lineups?

Arsenal XI to face Dortmund: Martinez, Chambers, Mertesacker, Monreal, Gibbs, Arteta, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sanchez, Cazorla, Sanogo

BANTER

Arsenal
Martinez, Chambers, Mertesacker, Monreal, Gibbs, Arteta, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cazorla, Alexis, Sanogo
Subs: Huddart, Koscielny, Bellerin, Rosicky, Flamini, Podolski, Campbell

Borussia Dortmund
Weidenfeller, Piszczek, Subotic, Ginter, Schmelzer; Gündogan, Bender; Mkhitaryan, Aubameyang, Großkreutz; Immobile

Sanogoal

What a joke, Rosicky, Joel and Podolski dont get minutes and Sanogol starts.

You cant be surprised by Wenger anymore, he will always start his favorite players.


I hope the scoreline is respectable at the end.

Sanogooooooooooooooo

We are playing really well

Our fullbacks have been really good, especially Gibbs

Yep and Ramsey has been good at everything he has tried.

I would take Alexis off to get some rest, risky I know but you gotta take some risks.

We really should have scored more in the first half, I just hope we dont get heartbroken in the second half.

We really need this win.