Arsenal 2-1 Dortmund: Job Done

The Man cannot be stopped right now

Arsenal      2-1    Borussia Dortmund

                                                     Van Persie 49, 86                Kagawa 90

Match report here.

How do you stop Robin Van Persie? By stopping the ball getting to him, answered Klopp, the Borussia Dortmund Manager. What he did not realise is that in order to stop the ball getting to RVP, you need to keep the entire Arsenal team from getting the ball. And for over 45 minutes, the Germans managed to hound us in packs and frustrate us. Until General Song decided enough was enough!!

General Song: Enough is enough! He said.

General Alex Song did what only Ronaldinho used to do in his pomp. He collected the ball just inside the Dortmund half, ran to the left corner, was marked by two Germans, he danced between them and picked an inch-perfect cross onto the head of RVP to head the ball into the Dortmund net after 49 minutes. You could sense the wind was knocked out of the German sails.

Before that, Dortmund started very brightly in both halves. In the first half, they looked very dangerous, running in on our goal and forcing some saves from Chezny, our keeper. But for all their huffing and puffing, they never really threatened us. Our defence looked and played very well. I must say the presence of Vermaelen just brings something different to our back line. He is a lot like Nemanja Vidic for Manchester United, but better. 

Arsenal were not allowed any time and space in midfield. Our players were being forced into errors or being robbed of possession. At first I was concerned, but as the game went on, I thought, ugh, lets be patient, they'll get tired. And with their loss of two key players within the first 30 minutes, I just felt it wasn't their day. And it wasn't.

Dortmund came out all guns blazing in the second half, but again, like a dog barking at a bull, we were unmoved. with 49 minutes gone, General Song decided he had had enough, he stood up, produced a moment of brilliance, provided a goal for RVP then went back to his usual hard working self in midfield.

That moment of brilliance by General Song sparked Arsenal into life. The passing became sharper, the movement was quicker, Santos started to show-boat a little, much to my amusement. I am liking Santos more and more. He makes silly passes now and then, but with time, he will be one of the great entertainers of the team, especially when we are winning. He is starting to show his Brazilian side. 

Dortmund: Battered into submission

With 5 minutes left to play, we got a corner on their right. Arteta sent it into the box, Vermaelen flicked it on to the unmarked RVP at the far post. I was shocked with the marking of Dortmund I must say. But I wasn't complaining you see. 2-0 to the Arsenal. By now the game was well and trully won.

Dortmund scored a consolation goal on 90 minutes, but really, that marked their last involvement in this season's Champions League. They need a couple of miracles to progress.

A word too for Gervinho. He had a stinker of a game yesterday. He is really going through a funk right now. Lets hope he keeps his head up and continues to work hard. He'll be back. And back is Abou Diaby. I am really happy to see him back and playing. We have a lot a games coming up and need all hands and feet on deck. He brings something different to our midfield.

So we have secured top spot from our group, a very tough group. Manure, Chelski and Manshity are yet to qualify. We can play our carling cup squad in the final game of the group to give them experience and also rest our big guns for domestic action.

Next up is Fulham in the Premier League at the Emirates on Saturday. Let's be focussed and serious and we should beat them .

Onwards march the Arsenal!!!