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Arsenal logo
Champions League | Group Stage
Oct 22, 2013 at 7.45pm UK
 
Dortmund logo

1-2

Giroud (41')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Mkhitaryan (16'), Lewandowski (82')

Match Analysis: Arsenal 1-2 Borussia Dortmund

Match analysis of Arsenal's home defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.

Arsenal took on Borussia Dortmund in Group F of the Champions League and lost 2-1 after a counter-attack finished off by Robert Lewandowski.

The visitors started well and harried the Gunners early on before taking the lead through Henrikh Mkhitaryan following errors from both Mikel Arteta and Aaron Ramsey.

Arsenal regrouped and got level before the break through Olivier Giroud, but despite a dominant second half it was the Germans who took the points late on.

Here, Sports Mole analyses the game to see whether the points went the correct way.

Match statistics:

Arsenal:
Shots 8
On target 5
Possession 55%
Corners 2
Fouls 13

Dortmund:
Shots 7
On target 3
Possession 45%
Corners 1
Fouls 13

Was the result fair?

In a word: no. Dortmund could argue that they worked hard enough for a point that was looking to be the most likely outcome as the game wore on, but they cannot claim a win was deserved. It was a game of few chances, but Arsenal were in control in the second half and did enough at least for a point. But that's football.

Arsenal's performance

They played a lot better during their 12-match unbeaten run that has now come to an end, but they did not deserve to lose the game. Early on they struggled to cope with Dortmund's high pressing game, but midway through the first half they created space and from that point on were on top. Santi Cazorla clipped the woodwork before Lewandowski's late winner.

Dortmund's performance

They were well-drilled and had a clear gameplan which worked, particularly at the start of the game, but even their most passionate fan cannot claim that the points were deserved. In the end they had the element of luck that so often decides games, as well as fortune when Robert Lewandowski was booked when he might have been sent off for an elbow on Olivier Giroud.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Kevin Grosskreutz: Most of the Dortmund players worked hard, but Kevin Grosskreutz was head and shoulders above them. The right-back was the most attacking player for them for most of the game and got up and down the flank constantly before his effort was rewarded with the assist for Lewandowski's winner.

Biggest gaffe

Aaron Ramsey was guilty of trying to play his way out of a sea of yellow shirts for Dortmund's opener, but the biggest mistake was probably Mikel Arteta's pass to him initially. Ramsey was surrounded, yet the Spaniard still gave him the ball, which led directly to Dortmund taking it and Mkhitaryan scoring the opener.

Referee performance

Jonas Eriksson, for the most part, did well, but his performance was tarnished by the decision to only book Lewandowski for what was a clear elbow on Laurent Koscielny. He saw it and immediately showed the yellow, but the rules dictate that it should have been a red. Of course, his decision was made all the worse by the fact that the Pole was the eventual match-winner.

What next?

Arsenal: Tonight's hosts will look to get back to winning ways with a Premier League clash away to struggling Crystal Palace.

Dortmund: Dortmund will be boosted by tonight's win and will look to take the momentum into the weekend's tough clash against Schalke 04.

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Henrik Mkhitaryan of Borussia Dortmund scores the first goal during the UEFA Champions League Group F match between Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund at Emirates Stadium on October 22, 2013
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