Arsenal progress with victory over Dortmund
ByEurosport
Updated 27/11/2014 at 01:28 GMT
Champions League Group D, Emirates Stadium - Arsenal 2 (Sanogo 2, Sanchez 57) Borussia Dortmund 0
Arsenal progressed to the last 16 of the Champions League with a 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund thanks to a first goal for Yaya Sanogo and a lovely finish from Alexis Sanchez.
Sanogo pounced to slot home his first in Arsenal colours after just two minutes before Sanchez curled in a beauty from the edge of the box in the second half to round things off.
The result means that Arsenal progress to the knockout stages and still have a chance to top the group going into the final round of matches.
Despite missing key players in the form of Danny Welbeck, Jack Wilshere and Olivier Giroud, Arsenal dictated from the outset and enjoyed the perfect start when Sanogo latched onto Santi Cazorla’s pass to slide the ball under Roman Weidenfeller.
Sanogo could have a second minutes later but took one touch too many having beaten the offside trap and allowed the defence to get back and block his shot.
The home side were rarely troubled in defence and when Sanchez curled in a beautiful second, Arsenal banished memories of their collapse against Anderlecht and closed down the match.
KEY MOMENTS
2’ – GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Dortmund: It’s a great moment for Yaya Sanogo who scores his first goal in eight appearances for Arsenal. He receives Cazorla’s pass and slides the ball under Weidenfeller.
8‘ – CHANCE SANOGO! He could make it two after beating the offside trap but takes too many touches and allows the Dortmund defence to hurry back and make the block.
38‘ – GOOD SAVE MARTINEZ! It’s the first time the Arsenal keeper is called into action and he saves with his legs from Mkhitaryan.
51‘ – GOOD SAVE WEIDENFELLER: He gets down well to palm Sanchez’s shot around the corner.
54‘ – OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN HITS BAR: It sits up nicely for the volley and his effort cannons back off the woodwork.
57‘ – GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Dortmund: a lovely curling effort from Sanchez that creeps inside the far post.
KEY STATS
Arsenal’s last CL clean sheet was exactly a year ago: a 2-0-win over Olympique Marseille on the 26th November 2013.
Yaya Sanago scores his first goal for the Gunners in just his eighth start.
Oxlade-Chamberlain makes his 100th appearance for Arsenal.
Alexis Sanchez has scored two goals in this year’s CL-season, equalling his personal record of goals in a single season (2011/12 with FC Barcelona).
TALKING POINT
Arsenal injury problems are mounting again. The result may have been something to savour but with Mikel Arteta and Sanogo both limping off, Arsenal’s threadbare squad is further depleted. And the question must be asked, are all these injuries just more than bad luck.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal): Lit up the match with some sublime moments of skill and put the game to bed with a quite exquisite finish.
PLAYER RATINGS
Arsenal: Martinez 6, Chambers 6, Mertesacker 7, Monreal 6, Gibbs 6, Arteta 6, Ramsey 7, Oxlade-Chamberlain 7, Alexis 8, Cazorla 7, Sanogo 7. Subs: Flamini 6, Campbell 6, Podolski 6
Borussia Dortmund: Weidenfeller 6, Piszczek 7, Subotic 6, Ginter 6, Schmelzer 6, Gundogan 6, Bender 6, Grosskreutz 6, Aubameyang 6, Mkhitaryan 7, Immobile 6. Subs: Jojic 6, Kagawa 6, Ramos 7.
MATCH IN A TWEET
Join 3M+ users on app
Download
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article