Arsenal travel to Germany tonight to face Champions League opponents Borussia Dortmund at the Westfalenstadion. Here are five key battles to look out for during the game.
Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal and Jurgen Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund meet tonight in the match that will kick off the Champions league. In a game that could decide the shape of the group very early on, here are five key battles you are likely to see going on throughout the match.
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5) Hector Bellerin v Erik Durm
With a number of injuries to Arsenal’s back line, Bellerin looks set to get a Champions League start for the Gunners. With Sanchez likely to be playing in front of him he should get plenty of help defensively, but the Spaniard loves to get forward and will regularly be taking on full-back Erik Durm.
4) Mikel Arteta v Shinji Kagawa
Although he was a relative flop for Manchester United, Shinji Kagawa was a revelation for Dortmund during his previous spell at the club. Playing in between the lines and looking to split the defence, Arteta will have to marshal the Japanese playmaker expertly, cutting off the supply to the forward players. Having scored on his debut Kagawa will be fired up for the clash, and probably feels he has a point to prove to English fans.
3) Jack Wilshere v Lars Bender
Wilshere put in a superb Man of the Match performance against Manchester City this weekend and looks to be really finding some form early on this season. Bender is only recently returning from an injury, and if the German does start in the heart of midfield he may have a tough time keeping up with the bulldog like Englishman.
2) Mesut Ozil/Santi Cazorla v Lukasz Piszczek
Arsenal’s full-backs provide most of the team’s width, and consequently are asked to get forward regularly. This often leaves the flanks exposed, requiring others to track back. When Ozil and Cazorla are deployed on the left this can often be a problem, and if Gibbs is caught up the field Piszczek could have a field day down the right for Dortmund. Whoever Arsene Wenger chooses to play ahead of the English left back will have to be disciplined if Arsenal are to avoid an upset.
1) Danny Welbeck v Sokratis Papastathopoulos
As a deadline day signing Danny Welbeck hasn’t had much time to bed into the team just yet, but he already showed he is a threat going forward against Manchester city on Saturday. With Dortmund’s captain Matts Hummels out injured, Sokratis has been featuring at centre-back this season, and Welbeck will be looking to play off the shoulder of the Greek international. The former Manchester United man’s pace could cause the Dortmund back line a real problem, and the England striker will be highly motivated to get his first goal for the Gunners tonight.