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Dortmund logo
Champions League | Group Stage
Sep 16, 2014 at 7.45pm UK
 
Arsenal logo

2-0

Immobile (45'), Aubameyang (48')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Player Ratings: Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Arsenal

Sports Mole rates the performances of every player after Borussia Dortmund beat Arsenal 2-0 in the Champions League.

Borussia Dortmund made a winning start to their Champions League campaign by beating Group D rivals Arsenal 2-0 on Tuesday night.

Jurgen Klopp's side could have enjoyed a wider margin of victory against a below-par Arsenal, but goals from Ciro Immobile and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were enough to secure the three points.

Below, Sports Mole rates how each player performed at Signal Iduna Park.


Dortmund's Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (L) celebrates scoring with his teammates during the first leg UEFA Champions League Group D football match against Arsenal on September 16, 2014© Getty Images

BORUSSIA DORTMUND

Goal

Roman Weidenfeller: In truth, the German goalkeeper had very little to do as Dortmund dominated, with Arsenal hitting their only chances off target. (6/10)

Defence

Erik Durm: It didn't matter whether it was Alexis Sanchez or Mesut Ozil in front of him, Durm was always one step ahead of his opponent. Offered a good option going forward, too. (7/10)

Neven Subotic: Marshalled the defence superbly all night, and was always alert whenever an Arsenal player made runs forward from deeper positions. (7/10)

Sokratis Papastathopoulos: Decent night for the Greek, who was rumoured to be a target for Arsenal in the summer. He swept up any dangerous balls well, and looked relaxed on the ball throughout. (7/10)

Marcel Schmelzer: Tired as the match went on after recently recovering from an injury, but was a willing runner on the wing for his side. (6/10)

Midfield

Sebastian Kehl: Neat and tidy in possession as Dortmund controlled the tempo of the match before being replaced at the half-time interval. (6/10)

Sven Bender: The 25-year-old will never steal the headlines for his side, but he was impressive in a deep midfield role. Kept Arsenal's creative players quiet, and launched a lot of Dortmund attacks. (7/10)

Kevin Grosskreutz: Displayed an excellent work-rate all evening to typify Dortmund's pressing style, and made vital contributions at both ends of the pitch. (8/10)

Henrikh Mkhitaryan: Always willing to get on the ball in advanced areas of the pitch, and should have scored at least one goal. Never allowed Mikel Arteta and Jack Wilshere to settle. (7/10)

Attack

Ciro Immobile: Chased down lost causes, linked with his teammates superbly, and scored a brilliant individual goal before the break. An excellent display from the Italian. (8/10)

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: A faultless performance. Took full advantage of the space foolishly offered to him by Arsenal, and worried every Arsenal defender every time he started to run with the ball. Took his goal impressively, too. (9/10)

Substitutes

Matthias Ginter: Looked comfortable in the middle of the park after replacing Kehl at the break. (6/10)

Milos Jojic: Came on with 11 minutes remaining, and linked well with the front two in the closing stages. (6/10)

Adrian Ramos: Not enough time to impress, but would have felt he could have concerned the Gunners with his pace. (5/10)


ARSENAL

Dortmund's midfielder Sebastian Kehl (L) and Arsenal's Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey vie for the ball during the first leg UEFA Champions League Group D football match on September 16, 2014© Getty Images

Goal

Wojciech Szczesny: Made a number of saves in the first half to keep Arsenal in the game, but will probably feel he could have done more to prevent Aubameyang from scoring. (6/10)

Defence

Hector Bellerin: Understandably looked nervous in his first start at right-back as he lost the ball a number of times early on. Improved as the match progressed, but will hopefully enjoy better nights for the Gunners. (6/10)

Per Mertesacker: The experienced German's lack of pace was clear for all to see on a disappointing evening. Immobile and Aubameyang caused him numerous problems, but he will feel he should have been given more help by the midfield. (4/10)

Laurent Koscielny: Not much better than his defensive partner. Often caught out of position, and enjoyed no success in his battle with Aubameyang. (5/10)

Kieran Gibbs: Offered a good option going forward, but should have done more to prevent Immobile from scoring just before the break. (6/10)

Midfield

Jack Wilshere: Jogged back towards his own goal as Immobile sprinted away for the opener. Showed a willingness to fight for his side in the second half, but was caught in possession on too many occasions. (5/10)

Mikel Arteta: Awful night for the Spaniard. Gifted chances to Dortmund with his sloppy passing, and suggested that he was unable to play as a holding midfielder against top-class opposition. (4/10)

Aaron Ramsey: We expect so much from the Welsh midfielder due to his form over the past year, but he was well short of his best tonight. Unlikely to play as badly again this season. (5/10)

Mesut Ozil: Struggled to make any kind of contribution for his side as he produced another uninspiring display in an Arsenal shirt. Some of the club's supporters might be starting to lose patience with him. (4/10)

Alexis Sanchez: Worst match of his short Arsenal career. Often looked a step behind his opponent, despite improving as the match progressed. (5/10)

Attack

Danny Welbeck: Always willing to offer an option in the channels, but his critics will surely return after watching him miss three good chances. (5/10)

Substitutes

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: One of the few decent players for Arsenal, but was fighting a losing battle alongside his frustrated teammates. (6/10)

Santi Cazorla: Struggled to get on the ball enough to dictate the tempo as Dortmund's midfielders enjoyed a comfortable night. (5/10)

Lukas Podolski: Threatened to pull a goal back late on, but was put off by Weidenfeller after breaking free from his markers. (5/10)


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Dortmund's headcoach Jurgen Klopp laughs during an interview prior to the German first division Bundesliga football match FC Augsburg vs Borussia Dortmund in Augsburg, southern Germany, on August 29, 2014
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