Arsenal Vs. Borussia Dortmund, (19:45 Sky One) Group D

WoollyRedHat

vs.

Arsenal take on Borussia Dortmund tonight at the Emirates, with the Germans leading Group D.

Both have got off to less than stellar starts in their respective domestic leagues, especially Dortmund, the Champsions League finalists from two years ago find themselves second from bottom in the Bundesliga. However they have flourished in Europe, and have gotten off to their best start ever in the group stages, having won 4 out of 4 games in the group stages.

Arsenal still have a slim chance of topping the group, if they beat Dortmund and if Dortmund lose their last game, which would leave both teams level in points.
Their head-to head record is equal, both having won 3 and drawing one.
The last time they met, Dortmund demolished Arsenal in spectacular fashion, in a worrying sign of things to come, with Arsenals poor domestic form following them in the Champions League.

Arsenal go into this game as favourites with the bookies, and both managers will have something to prove tonight, with Wenger looking to inject confidence into his team, having now lost 2 of their last competitive fixtures with papers once again touting Klopp as a potential succesor to him.

The Gunners are without Wilshere (Ankle), Szczesny (Hip), Walcott ( Groin), as well as other long-term absentees.

Meanwhile Dortmund will be missing key man Reus, but should still have enough pace and flair in Aubeymang and Immobile to trouble Arsenal's flaky defence.

Projected Line-ups:

Arsenal- Martinez, Chambers, Mertesacker, Monreal, Gibbs, Arteta, Ramsey, Cazorla, Chamberlain, Sanchez, Wellbeck.

Dortmund-: Weidenfeller; Piszczek, Subotic, Sokratis Durm; Gundogan, Kehl; Mkhitaryan, Kagawa, Jojic; Aubameyang

Other Team News: In a welcome boost for Arsenal, Koscielny has returned to the squad earlier than predicted. Giroud is unavailable for selection due to not being registered for the group stages following his injury and his initial predicted January lay-off . Meanwhile, Ramsey in the press conference yesterday has said that he is returning to full fitness, with the player a shadow of himself in the 2014/15 campaign..

I end with a quote from Dylan Thomas which I heard from the spectacular film that is Interstellar last night for the players to heed: Do not go gentle into that good night.. Rage, rage against the dying light.

Arsenal starting XI-Martinez, Chambers, Mertesacker, Monreal, Gibbs, Arteta, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cazorla, Alexis, Sanogo.
#Arsenal subs: Huddart, Koscielny, Bellerin, Flamini, Rosicky, Campbell, Podolski

BVB Dortmund:Weidenfeller, Piszczek, Subotic, Ginter, Schmelzer, Gündogan, Bender, Großkreutz, Aubameyang, Mkhitaryan, Immobile
Dortmund subs:Langerak, Durm, Hornschuh, Kehl, Jojic, Kagawa, Ramos

maximoose

Also on Setanta Ireland

Soups123

Come on Arsenal

thats all

Augmerson

Should be a good match!

Will I Amnt

Easy choice of what game to watch tonight. Absolutely no idea how it will go though.

Intersting to see Kagawa start, wonder how he does tonight

Kharrell

Game of the night on paper most certainly, that aside, it's a very poor bunch of fixtures tonight. Fancy Borussia Dortmund minus Reus to get a point here, which if I'm not mistaken, a point will send them through to the knockout rounds. It's rather strange how formidable they look in the Champions League in comparison to their league form.

WoollyRedHat

Teams:

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


BVB Dortmund:Weidenfeller, Piszczek, Subotic, Ginter, Schmelzer, Gündogan, Bender, Großkreutz, Aubameyang, Mkhitaryan, Immobile
Subs-Langerak, Durm, Hornschuh, Kehl, Jojic, Kagawa, Ramos

gosplan

WoollyRedHat wrote: »

Teams:

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


BVB Dortmund:Weidenfeller, Piszczek, Subotic, Ginter, Schmelzer, Gündogan, Bender, Großkreutz, Aubameyang, Mkhitaryan, Immobile
Subs-Langerak, Durm, Hornschuh, Kehl, Jojic, Kagawa, Ramos

Nice, a left back in the centre and a striker who's never scored.

efb

Sky One

0-0 I reckon

bad2dabone

gosplan wrote: »

Nice, a left back in the centre and a striker who's never scored.

We're approaching peak arsenal

Will I Amnt

Is Welbeck injured?

tayto lover

Will I Amnt wrote: »

Is Welbeck injured?

Yes. Hamstring. Not serious.

Mr Blobby

**** OFF!!!


AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Mickeroo

Was inevitable really.

omega man

So glad I didn't slag him off when I saw his name as a starter!

Well done lad.

Pints all round!

WoollyRedHat

Lovely, fair play Yaya.

Sanogoals, well played

Will I Amnt

gosplan wrote: »

Nice, a left back in the centre and a striker who's never scored.

Lol :pac:

tayto lover

Ha ha nnnnnnnnnnineteen Sanogo

Mickeroo

We looked very open when they broke there.

greendom

Absolutely delighted for him!

efb

Wenger Knows

Course I changed my mind to AOC for my scorecast. :pac:

efb

8-1 on bet fair to score next

tayto lover

Should have had 2 now. Poor there.

Mickeroo

Another corner where we leave ourselves open to counter.

Will I Amnt

Make hay while the sun shines... Dortmund haven't got going, there's another early goal in this for Arsenal.

keano_afc

We're so wide open at the back. 2 against 2 there, why is that happening, again?

efb

Stuck him 15/2 for 2nd goal

Alfred Borden

Ramsey looking sharp!

tayto lover

Mert looking shaky.
Hate when he goes anywhere near the half-way line.

efb

tayto lover wrote: »

Mert looking shaky.
Hate when he goes anywhere near the half-way line.

When doesn't he look shaky?

tayto lover

efb wrote: »

When doesn't he look shaky?

When he's in the dressing-room.

greendom

efb wrote: »

When doesn't he look shaky?

When Koscielny plays

efb

Skillz by Santi

tayto lover

efb wrote: »

Skillz by Santi

Not beating the first man at corners and free-kicks though.
Playing well otherwise. Best game in ages.

efb

tayto lover wrote: »

Not beating the first man at corners and free-kicks though.
Playing well otherwise. Best game in ages.

He was never amazing at them

symbolic

tayto lover wrote: »

Not beating the first man at corners and free-kicks though.
Playing well otherwise. Best game in ages.

It's hardly a million miles away from saturdays so far except the chance went it?

tayto lover

symbolic wrote: »

It's hardly a million miles away from saturdays so far except the chance went it?

As long as we're not behind we play well.

symbolic

tayto lover wrote: »

As long as we're not behind we play well.

I mean ye played well all first half on saturday

efb

Yer man went down like a sack of shït when he lost the ball

lertsnim

Gibbs has been unreal tonight.

Alfred Borden

Dortmund turning the screw, need the half time whistle

Looper007

Raf32 wrote: »

Dortmund turning the screw, need the half time whistle

We hit them on the counter attack, we're doing pretty well.

Chrissybhoy

Good first half from Arsenal. Gibbs fantastic tonight and has been all season gone ahead of Baines in my opinion this season. Even tho he took his goal well Sanogo is poor very poor

yipeeeee

Arsenal still in the dressing room.

efb

Sanogo can't hold up the ball like Giroud

omega man

Hard luck ox, class effort.

Mars Bar

That would have been sweet!