It’s been a while since we’ve been top of anything

Arsenal 2 - 1 Borussia Dortmund

At various points this season it looked like we would be top of a table for the number of red cards, for the number of goals conceded, for the number of players that wanted to leave us, for the number of alleged panic buys in the transfer window.....but low and behold it looks like none of these will be true and instead we find ourselves as the only English club that is top of their Champions’ League group and guaranteed to progress into the knockout phase of the competition, achieved with a game to spare might I add! 

It was another very good team performance against what was a very good Dortmund side, themselves buzzing with confidence after a 1-0 win away at Bayern Munich over the previous weekend which had taken them to second in their domestic league – as reigning domestic champions they make a mockery of their fourth placed seeding in the Champions League, especially when one considers that they are previous winners of the competition.  Fergie, Mancini and AVB (if he’s around long enough) can only look on with envy as Arsene is able to rest and rotate players for the final group game away to Olympiakos.  This team has done the job required of them and done so in a very professional, efficient and clinical manner in what has been a tight group with games between most of the teams being decided by the odd goal. 

The Good

The first half saw us play almost like the away team as Dortmund controlled possession and managed to threaten albeit only from distance.  Their lack of penetration was down to two factors - injuries to two players requiring them to be substituted, most notably Mario Gotze who every Gunner hopes will one day soon wear the red and white, and the fact that we defended compactly and intelligently in front of our box.  However, this led to little if no attacking intent on our part.  Things had to change after half time and they did in the shape of Alex Song who provided a second match winning assist to RVP in the space of two games, with this one in particular being one to cherish (more on that later).  A very good leap and downward header meant 1-0 to The Arsenal.   

From then on we were in control and doubled the lead with a goal straight out of the past – whipped in corner (Arteta), near post flick-on (Vermaelen), easy far post tap in (you guessed it, RVP).  It was also noticeable that we restricted Dortmund to a handful of chances throughout the game with the team defending very well as a unit and also individually.  I lost count of the number of tackles and interceptions we won, not only from the usual suspects (the back four and midfield) but also from Theo and Gervinho who provided admirable cover for their respective fullbacks.  This team is working hard for each other and it shows.

Another two goals for RVP....yawn....no seriously watching him right now just makes me so happy.  He is in his best run of form ever and the team is playing to his strengths so fingers crossed it continues (See goals and match reaction at arseblog).

The Bad

I have no real ire after the game.  Small things may grate but when considered against the bigger picture of qualifying top of our group and therefore avoiding Barcelona and Real Madrid in the last 16, these are things that can be worked on by Arsene at the training ground and brushed aside for another day.  What I will say is that this team always needs to maintain its concentration for every minute of a game otherwise they will be punished for any lapse (as shown by Dortmund’s goal) and secondly, can someone at the club please give Gervinho extra shooting practice.  Come the business end of the season it may well be the difference between success and failure.

The ‘Did I Just See That?’

When Alex Song first picked up the loose ball near the left side of the centre circle and headed to the left touchline with his head down surrounded by three Dortmund players, every Gunner was probably thinking ‘where is this muppet going?’  But a few seconds later and he had taken six Dortmund players out of the game; three with a fantastic piece of dribbling skill and another three with a peach of a cross to none other than captain fantastic RVP.  While he is no RVP, Theirry Henry (in the crowd with his friend Roger Federer eating a huge hotdog) a Robert Pires or Dennis Bergkamp, if any of those aforementioned players had done that we would be eulogising about it for years to come. 

In recent seasons Song has shown more desire to break free from his defensive midfield role and create/score goals.  This however has always been tempered by the thought that at times he hasn’t been able to marry the two potential sides of his game and strike an effective balance.  After last night’s performance which can only be described as that of a complete midfield player, he showed that he is able to take a game by the scruff of the neck and impose his will on it – he was everywhere making interceptions, starting attacks, tracking runners, helping his team mates and most importantly breaking the deadlock.  The only blot on his performance will be his dawdling by our corner flag in the 91^st minute, together with substitute Djourou, that led to Dortmund grabbing a consolation goal and spoiling what would have been a welcome clean sheet for the team.  Szczesny was rightly visibly angry.  

May Alex Song, along with the rest of the team, keep showing improvements as they have recently.  If they do then there will be more victories this season and more moments of skill that have us wondering ‘Did I just see that?’

On a final note, the atmosphere at the ground really came across well with the Dortmund fans dressed as bumble bees passionately behind their team and Gunners responding likewise.  With Champions League knock-out qualification secure, the club can now concentrate on domestic matters and hopefully keep moving forward.