please log in to view this image UEFA Champions League 23rd Nov 2011 KO: 7:45 Emirates Stadium please log in to view this image It’s the 5th round of the Champions League group stages and Arsenal are on the verge of yet again qualifying for the last 16 of Europe’s premier club competition. A win or draw against Borussia Dortmund will see them progress. But it will be another stern test for Wenger’s men. Since facing them back in October, Dortmund have found their form and have won 4 out of the last 6 games. They have chalked up two very impressive back to back wins in the Bundesliga. Before beating, Bayern away last weekend they destroyed Wolfsburg 5-1 at home. They have climbed to second in the German league and when you consider their indifferent start its some fight back from Jurgen Klopp’s men. In the champions league, they showed their naivety in the first phase of the group stages. Not taking chances and individual defensive mistakes saw them get beat away from home to Marseille and Olympiacos. Even though they avenged the latter with a home win they still have their work cut out if they are to make it to the last 16. In all likelihood they will need a win at the Emirates to stand any chance of going through to the last 16. All eyes will be on reported Arsenal target Mario Goetze, who scored the winner against Bayern on Saturday. Arsenal like Dortund have recovered from their bad start and are in great form. They have won 10 out of their last 12 games. But unlike Dortmund, they did not let their bad league form affect them in the CL, hence they are a point away from the last 16. With all the talk about a young German playmaker it’s maybe a chance for Aaron Ramsey to show off his creative talents to the rest of Europe. A player that has had his highs and lows in a short Arsenal career will be looking to be the Arsenal creative force like Goetze will be for Dortmund. Team News: Wenger Form Guide: Arsenal: WWWDWW Borussia Dortmund: LWDWWW Three Key Match-ups: please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Group F Standings: please log in to view this image Previous Game Stats: Borussia Dortmund vs Arsenal Goals: 1 : 1 Bookings: 2 : 1 Possession: 57% : 43% Corners: 3 : 1 Goals Attempts: 23 : 9 On Target: 6 : 2 Fouls: 13 : 2 Offsides: 6 : 4 please log in to view this image Mangers Views: My Team: please log in to view this image
Good fred as usual jack Nice opportunity for Gotze to see the stadium that hopefully he'll be calling home next season. Also, good to see RVP starting after he was correctly rested for the Marseille game. I said then that he would need to be rested for the W.B.A game and that if he scored in that game it would prove the decision was correct. Which turned out to be right. Good job Wenger is in charge and not some of our less informed fans.....
Watch out for the way they press. Very intelligent and their players cover a lot of ground. I want to see how our midfield will cope under that type of pressure. Going to be a big test for Ramsey, without any time on the ball lets see if he can create.
That's not very like you PISKIE. You can't just put a smiley in and expect to be allowed to pass judgement on people and how valid their opinions are. You're normally very tolerant of other people but some things recently from both yourself and others have started to grate on me on this forum, and they're hindering constructive debate. It's starting to feel a lot like Animal Farm - all posters are equal, just some are more equal than others. Apologies for hi-jacking this thread to make this point, but I felt it necessary.
Who is the calmest person out of all the Arsenal Posters? I don't know who it is but I think they should get it. Maybe RVB.
With both clubs in good form and oozing confidence, i will tip arsenal to a narrow win in this tie. May be a 1-0 or 2-1 win to Arseanl. About the talented Mario Gotze. i just dont think he will want to come to arsenal this season. The lad is true dortmund fan and i dont see dortmund willing to let thier priced asset go just yet even for £30 milion .I doubt if wenger is also prepared to pay that sort of money for a teenager. We all know wenger. He will find cheaper options ,and if he can bid for the dortmund born Marco Reus that would be great.£15-£18 mill will do for him
I think if Wenger is going to spend big money, then it probably would be on a teenager - Unless Gotze has got a strong desire to join Arsenal, then I think it likely that someone like Madrid, AC Milan or god forbid Chelsea will come in for him and price us out of the market. Or we could just lock him in the ground tomorrow tonight and hold him ransom until Dortmund agree to give him to us. Bidding for someone like Marco Reus might be a more pragmatic solution though.
Yeah been hearing good things about this Marco Reus. Clearly Germany, are producing talent after talent after their massive overhaul post Euro 2000, I am sure we are already expanding our reach there. Sending more scouts and stuff like that.
I strongly feel Marco Reus will adapt to arsenals style of play better than Mario gotze would.. While i understand that we need better players in the squad and the need to replace fabregas and nasri, i just think it would be better if we look strenghten the defence. if we can stop conceeding silly goals, am pretty sure we will challenge cash city for the EPL..
