Gunners Ditch Dortmund, Arsenal 2-1 Borussia Dortmund

Its on to the Knockout Round of UEFA's Champion's League!!  Wednesday's win over the German champions make it 12 successive seasons that the Gunners have progressed to the final stage of the tournament.  In a classic battle, the two sides determined the fate of Group F as Robin Van Persie lifted the Arsenal once more, his brace sealing the doom of this top-notch Bundesliga squad.

Dortmund were still high from their big win over Bayern Munich and their confidence showed.  Right away, Lewandowski managed a fierce shot followed in quick succession with an effort by Shinji Kagawa. The visitors allowed Arsenal no breathing space and Klopp's boys were out for blood.  The Gunners could muster little more than a determined defense in the first half, their only offensive foray being a sparkling run  by Theo Walcott.  Dortmund regrettable lost the services of Sven Bender and Mario Gotze early on, but they did not seem inhibited in the least.  No goals, but plenty of pace.  So ended the first half.

Determined defending won the day

Dortmund began right where they had left off, several strong chances with Kagawa leading the charge, but the Arsenal's defense was again matched with the challenge.  Then came a moment of brilliance that would certainly decide the match.  Ramsey hit a wall in the midfield and poked the ball back for Alex Song.  In what certainly became the most inspired assist of the season to this point, Song zipped down the left side losing one marker, danced in the heart of the Dortmund defense, shook several more defenders and chipped a cross to the waiting Robin Van Persie.  The Dutchman nodded in his 16th of the season, that goal proving perhaps the most decisive to date.  Arsenal looked to bury the fixture on the hour, but some last-ditch defending by Hummels robbed Gervinho of a spectacular goal.  Arsenal pressed to extend their lead as Song began yet another triumphal march downfield.  It was all there but the finish as Walcott fired wide, missing by inches.  With all the pressure from both sides, there were certainly more goals to be had.  An Arteta corner kick was moved on by Vermalen, allowing Van Persie to continue his flawless form, grabbing another with four minutes left to play.  Dortmund were sapped but Kagawa snatched an opportunist's goal once the Arsenal back-line had effectively switched off.  The goal would prove the last kick of the match.

Van Persie strikes again!

Arsenal are through and with Marseille's loss clinch the top spot.  The higher seed will likely ensure easier opposition in the next round.  Its disappointing to Dortmund's run come to an end, however.  They're a very entertaining side and have a great deal in common with Arsenal.  With little time to savour the victory, Arsenal host Fulham in the League and then the infamous Manchester City in the Carling Cup.

Well done Arsenal!!

Surging Gunners Cast Off Canaries, Norwich City 1-2 Arsenal

A dominant Arsenal side added to their winning streak and goal getting wonder Robin Van Persie added to his tally as the Dutchman's brace completed an exciting comeback at Carrow Road.  Newly promoted Norwich City have looked every bit a consistent, resilient Premier League veteran rather than a promotion side this season.  The East Anglia club are characterized by tradition and grit, proving their mettle so far in the current campaign.  However, for all their spirit and pluck, the Canaries were outdone by the Gunners as the world looked on in the first big football match since the international break.

Good show by the Canaries

As the fixture commenced, it was Arsenal who asserted themselves early.  Norwich were proud and gracious hosts, boasting a record-breaking attendance of 26,801, City's most impressive crowd in the modern era.  The Gunners spurned a host of early chances and the Canaries capitalized quickly.  At the quarter hour mark, City's Morison bundled over Per Mertesacker (no small feat!) in the penalty box and banged home a goal for the hosts.  Arsenal regained control of the match and Gervinho took turns with Van Persie testing the Norwich goalkeeper.  With a firery cross in the 27th minute, Theo Walcott put the ball into a mad mix in front of goal.  The Dutchman promptly side-footed the tap-in, then celebrated kn style practicing his golf swing with his Arsenal counterparts.  The pace was soon drawn from the game but Arsenal were still commanding the affair.  Gervinho would watch another driven effort fly wide as the visitors failed to capture the lead before the break.

The Dutchman proves too much

With only minutes gone from the second half, there was already a bag-full of would-be Arsenal goals.  With a touch more accuracy and composure, the Gunners might have accomplished an embarrassing rout.  On the hour, Ramsey was felled at center stage.  Making the most of the advantage played, Alex Song quickly converted to attack and helped his onrushing striker to an insightful through ball.  One on one, Van Persie drew the keeper just so before expertly chipping over a wonder goal that sealed the fate of the home side.  Norwich revived for a moment, sparking chances of their own, but ended the game on the back foot struggling to cope with Gervinho's repeated efforts on goal.

The Arsenal are firing at deadly pace and with Liverpool turning over the Blues Sunday at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea, the Gunners, Liverpool, and the Spuds are level on points behind 'Toon and the Manchesters in the table.  Arsenal will need every bit of that form when they host Dortmund midweek in the Champions League.  The reigning German champs blanked the Bavarian giants, Bayern Munich one goal to nil at Allianz Arena over the weekend and will challenge Arsenal in every aspect of the game.  Wenger must keep his wits about him, knowing a win here will surely take the group and book their spot in the upper half of the next round.

Group Stage Stalemate, Arsenal 0-0 Marseille

Realizing this post comes a good week late, I still wanted to cover this Champions League draw.  A point a piece for Arsenal and Marseille with Dortmund's win over Olympiacos means its still an open field in Group F with Arsenal sitting on top by a point.  In their next Champs fixture, the Gunners host Dortmund and a win there would guarantee they progress to the knockout stage for 12 consecutive years.

In the weeks since their last matchup, Marseille had come into good form and were looking to take their chances at the Emirates.  The Ligue 1 side bossed the show in the opening minutes, and it was soon obvious the Gunner's line-up was less than the side that walloped Chelsea.  The visitors showed pluck and made several chances but the combination of Mertesacker and Vermalen at center back left Marseille with a  rather imposing challenge.  Arsenal had wrestled back control of the match by the half hour mark and both Ramsey and Park had seen a shot go wide.  At the break, however, nothing would separate the two.

The second half would be less remarkable than the first, and but was Marseille again who tried to make an impact early on.  Half way through the second period, Wenger subbed in Rosicky and Van Persie in an attempt to secure progression to the next round.  No such luck.  RVP had one decent chance but it was the visitors who dominated the final moments of the fixture.  At the whistle, the Marseille players were clearly happy with their performance, while the home sides showing was at least a decent outing.

A microcosm of the evening's events

There's hardly much to show from this game, but its important that the Gunners are still on top.  Its not a bad result all told, and honestly, its the first time this year that Arsenal could've afforded a draw.  The defense played well despite being tested by a quick Marseille attack.  As the campaign progresses, confidence and chemistry continue to grow on Arsenal's back line.  The Dortmund game will be a big one and the Gunner's must focus on that match before they can dream of the knockout stage.

Gunners Down Marseille with Late Strike, Marseille 0-1 Arsenal

Snatching victory through injury time, the Arsenal have topped Group F in the UEFA Champions League. A hard-fought match on foreign soil seemed destined to remain scoreless, but the Welsh Wonder dubbed "Rambo", Aaron Ramsey, broke the deadlock with seconds to spare.  With two of their three remaining group fixtures at home, Arsenal are in the driver's seat and look to finish group play with a top seed in the knockout round.

The Stade Velodrome boasts one of Europe's most spirited (and vocal) atmospheres and 1400 Arsenal fans skipped the channel to find themselves in the midst of a fiery cauldron of Marseille support.  Dismantling Dortmund 3-0, the French side were looking to bide their time and use counterattack technique to undue the Arsenal.  Early on, Jenkinson looked impressive down the right flank for Arsenal, spending more time in Marseille's half than ours.  The first half was full of intensity from both sides and thirty minutes into the fixture, either squad had reasonable appeal for a penalty.  Neither would have their complaints heard and for all the back and forth football, it was nil-nil going into the break.  

Jubilant Gunners celebrate 'just-so' victory

The second half was much like the first.  All buildup, no result.  Substitutions on both sides.  Seemingly no avail.  Despite the scoreline, it was an encouraging performance by the Gunner defense.  Undoubtedly, the achilles heel of recent Arsenal performances, the backline was showing a determined solidarity.  It was good play by the hosts and visitors alike, unfortunately nothing could separate the two.  The draw looked inevitable as injury time ticked away and then, out of nothing, a goal!  Second half sub Johan Djourou sent a searching ball into the box.  Nudged ever so slightly by Gervinho, another second half installment, the ball wound up at the feet of Ramsey.  Without a moment's hesitation, the ball was flitted into the net and the match was over.  

The win gives Arsenal 7 points and command of the group.  This side is on the rise and look more dangerous with every game.  The Gunners 'never say die' attitude brought home all three points in this crucial Champions League game.  Look for them to grow stronger as the campaign continues.  Cheers Rambo!!  Come on You Gunners!!

Gunners Edge Greeks, Arsenal 2-1

The Professor was in the stands for the second time this campaign.  Coming off the draw in Dortmund, Arsenal needed a strong performance at home to solidify their position in the group.  The "Ox" got the nod, and the stage was set for an important battle.

Plenty of Greek Londoners were in attendance and soon made their presence known.  The game begin quickly and as many were still finding their seats, in the 8th minute Alex Oxlaide-Chamberlain had already found the net!  The Ox became the youngest Arsenal Englishman to score in the competition!  He seemed to surprise himself with the effort and no doubt delighted the sellout crowd.  Arsenal were looking dangerous, controlling the game with Mikel Arteta to thank for it.  With twenty minutes gone, Santos was released from the back and went ripping down the left flank.  In moments, the Brazilian had slipped a ball in from a very difficult angle to score his first goal in red and white.  The visitors had conceded but not capitulated.  Seven minutes later, the visitors had halved the deficit and were intent on overtaking it.  Scoring from a corner, the Greek champions displayed tenacity as they battled for the upset.  At the break, Arsenal had the lead but were not controlling the game.  Olypiacos had left the pitch as the more dominant side.  

'The Ox' leads the charge

The second half was more nervy than the first and the Greek champions nearly leveled at the restart.  Arsenal defended their slender lead but the play soon became end to end football, a little too reminiscent of the Dortmund game...The Gunners backline looked as comfortable on the field as Arsene Wenger did in the stands.  After an alarming close-call that left the crossbar trembling, Wenger's stand in, Pat Rice knew it was time to make changes.  Robin Van Persie replaced Chamak who had played an impressive game up front.  Aaron Ramsey came in for a tired Oxlaide-Chamberlain.  Finally Gibbs relieved Arshavin, joining Song who was filling in on defense.  It was a tense game to be sure, but the Gunners withstood the pressure and won the match.  

Santos' first goal for Arsenal!

Although we got the right result, it was a little disappointing to see the Gunners on the back foot against what should have been our easiest competition in the group.  Also, our next two Champs League games are against Marseille who trounced Dortmund 3-0 in matchday two.  The outcome of those two fixtures will have a tremendous effect on result of Group F.  Arsenal may not have played with full conviction today but we still hold second place with four points against Marseille's six.  However, the margin for error is becoming smaller and smaller as the tournement progresses.

And So it Begins, Arsenal 1-1 Dortmund

UEFA Champions League is underway!  Yesterday, fans witnessed some spectacular matches between European giants in the first round of group play.  Chelsea trumped Leverkusen and Porto dismissed Shaktar with a missed penalty to boot.  In dramatic fashion, AC Milan and Barcelona finished 2-2.  Pato silenced Camp Nou 30 seconds into the match but the Rossoneri would be a goal down shortly after the half.   Stunning the Catalan's and stealing a point, Thiago Silva's equalizer came late in the second minute of stoppage time.

Arsenal travelled to Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund for their most difficult appointment in group play.  As of late, there are very few teams on the Continent who have stepped onto that pitch and not been victimized by a footballing master-class.  The BVB Stadion is one of the most difficult places to play in Europe with a sellout crowd of over 80,000 hardcore Dortmund fanatics present at nearly every single match.  To escape the grounds without suffering a loss is indeed an accomplishment.

In the opening stages of the match, the visitors absorbed heavy pressure from the Dortmund offensive.  Gervinho had a good shot blocked not five minutes in, but the hosts soon settled in and attacked relentlessly.  The young Japanese ace, Shinji Kagawa proved lethal in front of goal in Dortmund's title winning season last year and his form has only improved.  Mario Gotze nearly broke the deadlock in the 10th minute, but a last gasp clearance by Bacary Sagna saw the ball off the line and kept the Londoner's in the match.  Arsenal gained ground and possession but were forced to fight for every inch.  As the half was drawing to a close, Robin Van Persie robbed the Dortmund defense with an incisive slide tackle, cleverly slotting the ball to a waiting Walcott center-field.  The two were clearly on the same plain; in moments the Dutchman raced forward, receiving a perfect through ball, and stung the net before Wiedenfeller had even read the play.  

The fans were no less vocal in the second half, almost in defiance of the goal deficit.  Some brilliant link up play saw Gervinho fall just short of what would have been the decisive goal in the 59th minute.  A Dortmund resurgence was not enough to penetrate a determined Arsenal defense whose stingy back-line was a salve to many ailing Arsenal fans.  The boys in Red and White had bent without being broken.  It seemed that Dortmund were spent and the Gunners had pulled it off...almost.  Four minutes from time, the hosts were awarded a free kick.  The initial effort was blocked, but in a sublime volley, Dortmund's Perisic found the absolute top corner of the net with a shot you couldn't help but admire.  In the final seconds, Szczesny snatched a critical save and preserved a point for Arsenal.

The draw was certainly a disappointment for Wenger's men, given the run of play.  However, the match as a whole was a colossal success.  Arsenal's defense showed some real grit and consistency in the face of a difficult opponent and a tough stadium.  The group should get easier from here and Arsenal will look to secure the top spot and easier draw in the next round.  For now, its time to refocus on the domestic campaign and prepare to face Blackburn at Ewood Park on Saturday.