I have to say, as much as I have defended Giroud. He's not really offering much up front by way of threat or holding the play up to bring other players into the game.
Ok, I see Wenger is playing a very conservative game and is looking to hit Dortmund on the counter. The only problem is, we don't have the wingers to pull this off against Dortmund. I understand why Wenger doesn't want to go gung ho but the Dortmund keeper isn't that good, we need to test him. Would I be happy with a draw? Under these current circumstances yes but we should at least test their defence. Throw on Gnarby, we need someone fearless to come on.
I said at the start that posession and patience would be the most important things for us in this game and it's showing to be true. I don't care how many times we have to go backwards and forwards in this game, we have had some good spells of posession and some nice quick passing at times as well. What we don't want to do is over commit and aloow them space on the counter as they will score if we give them a decent chance on the break. Good game plan and it is working fairly well against a very good team. They have had a couple of good chances but under enough pressure that they haven't taken advantage of them. We have done well all over the field except when we reach there back 4 and they completely close us out resulting in no chances for us so far. We also need to close better in midfield and exploit the wide areas better (which would be easier with a pacey winger). We need to create a couple of chances but i think as the game goes on it will open up more and the chances will come. Arteta needs to be careful, i can see him endingup getting sent off. But the only option to replace him as a defensive midfield player is Hayden and he isn't ready for this game.
my biggest problem with him is that unless it drops FUCKING perfect for him he creates NOTHING . and when he does lose the ball hes strolls around and doesnt even try to get the ball back off the guy hes lost it to. It might be just me but he seems like its too much like hard work to MAKE something happen , he just waits and waits and waits , shrugs his shoulders if it dont come .
Our game plan is the right one, but we just do not have the players to pull it off when we go forward. We are clearly lacking pace. Would risk Gnarby just to give us something different.
I want to see more from Ozil and Cazorla, between them they should be able to carve something through the Dortmund back line.
Here we go second half, let's at least stop them from scoring. But three points would be amazing if we can pull it off.
Giroud has been non-existent, but then so has the service to him. For once the blame doesn't lay entirely with him.
