Arsenal beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium last night to seal a place in the Champions League knockout stages.
The Gunners were the only English club to collect all three points in Europe’s top competition this week, and are the only Premier League club to have cemented a spot in the last 16.
Dutch striker Robin van Persie continued his red hot form by scoring both of Arsenal’s goals, while Shinji Kagawa replied with a late consolation goal for Dortmund.
Both teams entered this game in good form, with Arsenal having gone unbeaten in their last eight games, and Dortmund having beaten Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich over the weekend.
Dortmund started well and dominated the early stages, but suffered two injury blows during the first half.
First Sven Bender was stretchered off in the 24th minute after colliding with Thomas Vermaelen, and fellow midfielder Mario Gotze limped off only four minutes later to be replaced by Ivan Perisic.
Dortmund continued to impress and went close when Robert Lewandowski fired just wide from the edge of the penalty area.
Theo Walcott was at the heart of Arsenal’s first half attacking threat, and went through on goal only to be smothered by Roman Weidenfeller.
Dortmund almost took the lead in the opening minute of the second half, but Wojciech Szczesny saved well to keep out Kagawa.
Van Persie fired Arsenal into a 49th minute lead, with the goal being created by some fancy footwork from Alex Song out on the left flank. Song showed nimble footwork to ghost between two defenders, and hung a cross up to the back post where Van Persie was on hand to head home.
Arsenal seized control of the game after taking the lead, and Gervinho went through one on one only to be denied by Weidenfeller.
Van Persie wrapped up the three points for the Gunners in the 86th minute, when he scored his 31st goal in his last 34 games for Arsenal. A Mikel Arteta corner was flicked on by Vermaelen, and Van Persie was on hand to double the Gunners’ lead.
Kagawa bundled home a goal from close range during injury time for Dortmund, but it was too little too late as Arsenal rounded out a 2-1 win.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger said after the game that he was “surprised” at Arsenal becoming the first English team to progress, and expressed is pleasure at his teams improved form of late.
“We came through a very difficult period because we were united and we worked hard together,” Wenger told BBC Sport.
LINEUPS
ARS – Szczesny, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Koscielny (Djorou 83), Santos, Arteta, Walcott (Diaby 85), Ramsey, Song, Van Persie, Gervinho (Benayoun 74).
BOR – Weidenfeller, Hummels, Felipe Santana, Schmelzer, Kehl (Barrios 63), Bender (Moritz Leitner 24), Kagawa, Lewandowski, Gotze (Perisic 28), Groskreutz, Piszczek.
SCORING SUMMARY
ARS – Robin van Persie (Alex Song) 49’
ARS – Robin van Persie (Thomas Vermaelen) 86’
BOR – Shinji Kagawa (Robert Lewandowski) 90+2’
LiveSoccerTV Man of the Match: Robin van Persie (Arsenal)
Attendance: 59,531
Dutch striker Robin van Persie continued his red hot form by scoring both of Arsenal’s goals, while Shinji Kagawa replied with a late consolation goal for Dortmund.
Both teams entered this game in good form, with Arsenal having gone unbeaten in their last eight games, and Dortmund having beaten Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich over the weekend.
Dortmund started well and dominated the early stages, but suffered two injury blows during the first half.
First Sven Bender was stretchered off in the 24th minute after colliding with Thomas Vermaelen, and fellow midfielder Mario Gotze limped off only four minutes later to be replaced by Ivan Perisic.
Dortmund continued to impress and went close when Robert Lewandowski fired just wide from the edge of the penalty area.
Theo Walcott was at the heart of Arsenal’s first half attacking threat, and went through on goal only to be smothered by Roman Weidenfeller.
Dortmund almost took the lead in the opening minute of the second half, but Wojciech Szczesny saved well to keep out Kagawa.
Van Persie fired Arsenal into a 49th minute lead, with the goal being created by some fancy footwork from Alex Song out on the left flank. Song showed nimble footwork to ghost between two defenders, and hung a cross up to the back post where Van Persie was on hand to head home.
Arsenal seized control of the game after taking the lead, and Gervinho went through one on one only to be denied by Weidenfeller.
Van Persie wrapped up the three points for the Gunners in the 86th minute, when he scored his 31st goal in his last 34 games for Arsenal. A Mikel Arteta corner was flicked on by Vermaelen, and Van Persie was on hand to double the Gunners’ lead.
Kagawa bundled home a goal from close range during injury time for Dortmund, but it was too little too late as Arsenal rounded out a 2-1 win.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger said after the game that he was “surprised” at Arsenal becoming the first English team to progress, and expressed is pleasure at his teams improved form of late.
“We came through a very difficult period because we were united and we worked hard together,” Wenger told BBC Sport.
LINEUPS
ARS – Szczesny, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Koscielny (Djorou 83), Santos, Arteta, Walcott (Diaby 85), Ramsey, Song, Van Persie, Gervinho (Benayoun 74).
BOR – Weidenfeller, Hummels, Felipe Santana, Schmelzer, Kehl (Barrios 63), Bender (Moritz Leitner 24), Kagawa, Lewandowski, Gotze (Perisic 28), Groskreutz, Piszczek.
SCORING SUMMARY
ARS – Robin van Persie (Alex Song) 49’
ARS – Robin van Persie (Thomas Vermaelen) 86’
BOR – Shinji Kagawa (Robert Lewandowski) 90+2’
LiveSoccerTV Man of the Match: Robin van Persie (Arsenal)
Attendance: 59,531
