Top of the group, baby! Arsenal 2-1 Dortmund

Arsenal is the best I'm big fan of Arsenal I think they are strong and very much dedicated to the game they always try to win and they are never over confident.

I'm curious as to where people stand on Santos vs. Gibbs when Gibbs is healthy.  I'm starting to lean towards Santos but I still have a feeling that his lunges will cost Arsenal a few goals as the season wears on.

defensively, gibbs. Games where we can be more attacking, Santos. But gibbs REALLY needs to sort out his injuries (and have some luck too).

Still very much on "Team Kieran." Santos's defensive lapses are always going to be costly.

Always? Including our undefeated streak? I think you mean that his defensive lapses will be costly at times this season, and I agree, but I think this game showed that his upside going forward may (and only may, not will) compensate for the chances he gives up.

Benayoun really should have done something with Santos' pass to him in the box, and he set up RvP to do something, but RvP made a mess of what could have been a good shooting opportunity and could have been a good passing opportunity (to Walcott). That's two very clear chances he created that could have led to goals. And even with him going forward all game, we were fairly tight at the back, though I will concede that a few Dortmund chances came down Santos' wing.

That should say if Gibbs is ever healthy. I'm in favor of Santos as he has had a good run of games and it makes sense to keep the backline together as much as possible.

Definitely an if ever rather than a when. Gibbs is an excellent player who could be very, very good. Right now Santos is fine, we're playing a little lopsided with him and it's working, so I'm happy. It's a bit like the old formations I've read about in Inverting the Pyramid, with one dedicated winger wide and one attacking fullback. 

Wait, you're a socialist? Does that mean you're a moderate center-left guy with reasonable ideas that can be negotiated?
Oh wait, you're Canadian! You probably worship to an altar of Engels.

Multiple Engels. The entire Engels family. It's like an Engels family reunion at my place every day.

And yes, I do believe that government through broad taxation should provide social programs to people who can't afford things like hospitals and food. In Canada that doesn't have a name because it's normal.

While I agree helping those in need is essential, I'm much more a fan of 'small government' something our Conservatives nowadays seem not to agree with.

You disgust me. This is getting shut down.

This made me laugh. Well done.

I literally laughed out loud, showed my wife and got an odd look and had to explain the whole thing, which produced an eye roll.
I wish I could like this comment more than once.

Oh, you Canadians are so civil. Here in America we would be slinging cat poo at each other by now.

didn't see the game, but great result

i'm getting worried that gervinho is starting to look like chamakh

Haha, Not to worry bob, he's not even close to Cham. With a little more work, Gerv will get it together. The frailties in his game can be helped. Gerv's issues are that his final ball is poor, his first touch is heavy, and sometimes he makes poor decisions. His work ethic is great, he combines well with the rest of the team and for that he's a great addition. Cham on the other hand is in a category of "suck" all by himself. I would take an injured Eduardo over a healthy Cham any day. 

Are we forgetting Chamahk's contribution to the first part of last season? He was great! I am a fan of Chamahk, granted he has been off form for a wee while now but he's good he saved our ass when RVP was injured. 

I agree that Cham was good at the beginning of last season and helped a lot, however, this slump is unreal. We have a lot of dead wood in our team right now that need clearing out and I think for his own good Cham should leave. He's not getting much playing time to regain the "ok" form he showed in the beginning and I think Wenger has lost patience with him. So no Rico, I haven't forgotten.

Nah, he creates far more chances for the team by creating a lot of space between the defenders. The goals will come in time, but for now he's still creating a positive impact on the pitch.

Absolutely agree with this. And I'm starting to get worried that I'm agreeing with Perry so much these days -- feel like that never used to happen.

Btw, does anybody know where to get a gif of the wink djourou sent flying at koscielny??

Couple of questions from your recap. You said in the first 20mins Dortmund passed the ball well, yet the graph you show from the first 15mins show that Dortmund completed only 71% of their passes. And not that I disagree, but I noticed you rated Ramsey 0.5 higher than Arteta. I'm curious what made you think he had a better game?

I'm an accountant, does that make me the devil? Also, I figured you were socialist B, which makes it so odd that I like you ;)

caligunner gets it right. While Dortmund's passing was less accurate overall, it felt more coherent and incisive. They would often get it wrong, as indicated by the 71%, but they had more completed passes and in more dangerous positions in our half than we had in theirs. Our passing would go sideways between our defenders, then forward to Song then sideways to our defenders, lather, rinse, repeat. 

Ramsey v. Arteta was tough, as neither were particularly effective going forward, but Ramsey had a couple of passes or clear moments where he excelled. The pass that put Gervinho through on net, for example. 

This may just be semantics, but being better than the opposition doesn't necessarily mean it was 'good'.
Anyways, I was just curious about you meant so thank you for the clarification. I agree with the overall point.

Yah, fair point. It just felt like Dortmund's passing had a purpose. They would press, win the ball, move it wide and/or forward, try to get it to Lewandowski or Kigawa, and try to force the issue. And in the first 20 minutes, they created more chances, even if neither teams' chances were particularly good.

Further, when a team is pressing with the ferocity of BVB to start the game, you know that they will eventually tire and the space will open up for the midfielders to find that incisive pass.  I thought that even though Arsenal were outplayed in midfield to start the game, they looked comfortable and always got back when they gave the ball away.  

Arsene has to smile a little bit when he lines up Theo and Gervinho against a team that plays a high line.  Its not really a matter of if, but when, and although the goals didn't come from this, a few great chances did.  Overall, Arsenal had 4-5 really good scoring opportunities to Dortmund's 1-2, so you have to say the game plan worked.

And likewise I felt Arsenal knew exactly what Dortmund were attempting to do, and dealt with their pressure extremely well, as witnessed by their patient build up play and attacking on the wings, and by purposely having Song sitting deeper than usual.
For all the talk of Dortmund pressing so well, I thought Arsenal were more impressive in how they played off the ball, rarely allowing Dortmund to get into dangerous positions. It's a criminal shame they conceded that silly goal to end the game, they fully deserved the clean sheet. I would've been raging at my fellow defenders for that like Vermaelen did.

I agree, our defence played very well, and Song was a beast. But Dortmund created better chances in the first half, which I think the above graphic indicates.

Other than the three goals, I can only think of a couple other shots for either team, and Dortmund definitely had the advantage there. Lewandowski's strike that went just wide, Kigawa from a sharp angle, etc. Meanwhile, we had Gervinho dribbling or passing into defenders.

I think I agree with the post, in that while Arsenal completed more passes, they mostly pinged it around between the back 4 and a deep dropping midfield.  Dortmund played a high line and Arsenal couldn't really pass through it.  Dortmund on the other hand was playing in the final third and created space for themselves quite well.  The passing may have been less accurate as a % but it was more incisive and took place in Arsenal's half more.

that starting XI/MS-Paint breakdown just blew my mind. Song as Sweeper? Santos Playing higher up the line than the other members of the back four? walcott playing a 'true winger' hugging the touchline? Absolute class.

None of this is sarcasm...I appreciate the effort put into breaking down how the team played (a la ZM).

Great writeup, great breakdown.

Although the Geto Boyz said 'damn it feels good to be a gangsta'...I must say, it feels even better to be a Gooner right now. (only my real hip hop heads will get that)

I should have put arrows pointing all over for RvP. And thanks. 

And my co-worker brings that Geto Boyz all the time. Dig. 

I agree, excellent tactical assessment.  I think that Wenger, especially with Kos/Djourou at right back, shifting Santos further up the pitch and sliding Song and Verm over to deal with covering back for him.  It is a good move because Santos is pure class going forward and really helps out the midfield with his calm presence on the ball.  Santos may not be a great defender, and he rarely tracks runs, but he brings something to the table that Arsenal haven't had since Cole.

I also noticed that for the last 3 games or so that Song has been the furthest player back for Arsenal on corners, presumably because he is our most effective player at breaking up counter-attakcs

DDDDDIIIIIIIIAAAAAAABBBBBBYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!

Guess this is my time to chime in. Glad to see Diaby back, like Cali said, he brings something a bit different that we dont have at the moment. In addition, it always good to see an injured player back, especially Diaby. He's suffered more injures than any player in modern day Arsenal history(7 major injuries) and hasn't really had time to prove his worth. Furthermore, we'd have a hard time selling him, his carfax says he's damaged goods, so for our sake lets hope he can stay healthy and help us climb up the table. 

I think most people forget how good Diaby was partnering with Cesc and Song two season ago.  He has pace that both Ramsey and Arteta lack and has a good nose for goal.  Unfortunately he takes too many touches and picks poor passes in the final third, but he certainly brings an element to midfield that Arsenal don't have.

I thought he wasn't as bad as every1 was making him out to be against newcastle last year. up till the point where he got sent off

So, Mrs. Lincoln, other than your husband's getting shot in the head, how did you enjoy the play?

Fact. So factual. Dribbles to much at time, slowing down play, has some bad decisions, but he's the fucking man. 

Why is there no "unlike" button?

Like like like him a lot he's the best midfield player behind Wilshere

That's true, if we are in some sort of parallel universe where Ramsey, Rosicky, Song, and hell, probably even Coquelin don't exist.

Diaby and Wilshere are the only midfielders willing to run at players and fuck shit up in the middle of the field. One of them, with one of the two incisive passers (Arteta, Ramsey), will bring a new, awesome dimension to the midfield. 

Having said that, Patoux21's a little off his rocker suggesting he's better than Arteta/Song and Ramsey.

Am not a fan of diaby, but i'll take him for depth, we are going to need him. until wilshere returns. the 3 central midfield players (No. 16, No. 8 and No. 17) have played a lot this season.

Arteta has to be close the "red" zone.  I can't think of a non-Carling cup match he hasn't featured in.

That's because he has played every other game. Song as well I believe

wow just watched the highlights from yesterday, Song is my hero. I had be considering whose name would be on the back of the jersey I would be getting and I have no choice but his after that goal. Straight class homie. 

He had two tackles that are so clear in my mind. Absolutely brilliant. His long legs just reach out and grab the ball. 

If he can only reduce the number of passes he gives away and the times he gets stripped of the ball, I'd consider him world-class or something. 

Djourou at fault again for a goal against us. Should of left Kos on the field, I didn't see any need for the change. Kos holding up well in the right back spot well. 

I'd like to add something about Song's performance; He was the cover man for when any of our defence decided to go for a run... Santos mostly. He was the one opening up play and was playing attacking midfielder as well as defensive midfielder.

Dortmund I've got to give credit, I was shocked by they're attacking play but this is also a positive note to our defence. I think we defended very well against such an attacking team. We held our own in defensive and perhaps some defensive critics may back off our back four. TV5 does help the situation.

RVP's second goal, you asked where were the defenders, RVP pulled then forward then he backed off creating space for himself, shocking defending but well done by RVP. I also like to think that was planned between TV5 and RVP. 

I really thought that BVB's pressing was the best I have seen Arsenal face since Barcelona.  I think that Arsenal really defended well and severely limited their chances by not playing too high of a line.  This Arsenal team is not really set up to play through the press as I don't think that Theo/Gervinho are good enough short passers to really help the midfield.  Although neither goal resulted from this, Arsenal were biding their time for either a deep dropping Ramsey or van Persie to find Theo or Gerv behind the back line.  It almost resulted in 3 goals (Theo cross, Theo through and Gerv through) so I think Wenger got the tactics spot on.

Forget the goal, Song is the best DM on the league. Remember when we use to criticise him

a man named Ya Ya might have something to say about this, but a case could certainly be made.

Yep. Definitely world class (only long-time readers of the site will get that one).

Do you think Song would step into the first IX of any club in the world?

I don't think van Persie would necessarily step into Barcelona's first XI. I guess he's not world class, either, by your definition. By your definition, we may have never had a world class player, in fact, because I think there's only a handful (like, 3-4) players in the world at any given time you could say that about.

I'll just say what I said in the original "world class" debate however long ago that was. I think if you're one of the 10 or so best players in the world at your position, or roughly one of the 100 best players in the world, you can reasonably be called world class. I thought Song fell into that category then, and I definitely think he falls into that category now, so I have no problem calling him world class.

I think he needs to be more clever in defensive position. Unfortunately he too often tends to dribble, keep the ball or make a bad pass very close to our own goal and eventually losing the ball and we concede goals just like this game. Once he improves his decision-making or composure he can pretend to be world-class. Sometimes he makes things complicated when a simple pass would be better.

But please keep in mind Song was to blame for the Dortmund goal more than anyone else.  That probably cost him MOTM in my estimation.  Still, the assist he created was unreal.

I gave Djourou an equal portion of the blame. It was his pass that went straight to a Dortmund player, after all.

Yea. I saw that, but he did too many good things in that game. At the moment the good outweighs the bad