Koscielny Back To Save Beleaguered Arsenal

Arsenal vs Dortmund - Match Preview - Champions League 26.11.14

When Arsène Wenger faced the media yesterday he seemed bullish in his optimism and demeanor. For some factions of fans, seeing this after the defeat to Manchester United is just another example of the manager not having "learned his lesson". Objectively though, if you look at the United match in isolation it was one of those matches where Arsenal performed better than their opposition but were punished by the unholy triumvirate that seems to dog Arsenal season after season - wayward finishing, poor officiating and opposition counter attacking.

This latest setback for Arsenal was not nearly as ignominious as the doomers would have you believe but as even in isolation it is a cause for concern you can understand some of the furor as it is the latest calamitous result for Arsenal. Losing to Swansea from a winning position was hard enough to take after losing a three goal lead against Anderlecht and going down to one of the poorest United sides, in terms of defence, having been the better side was three results too many.

The United game was a 90 minute form of the whole of last season. Arsenal were on top for the majority of the game but ultimately let it slide themselves and fell sizeably short. The poor officiating isn't something Arsenal can overcome however the susceptibility to counter attacks and lackadaisical finishing are things Arsenal can control and thus Wenger's optimism is not without merit.

Wenger welcomes Koscielny back into the fold and contention for a start and that alone is reason to be cheerful. One could make an argument that the past three results with a fit Koscielny aiding the back four and allowing Mertesacker to do what he does best and the general solidity it gives the team would have seen three starkly different results. 

Arsenal face an injury hit Dortmund who are flailing in the Bundesliga however Arsenal aren't without their own injury issues with Walcott, Wilshere, Szczesny, Debuchy and Özil still out. Giroud also misses the next two group games as his early return from injury could not have been foreseen and he is not eligible. Domestically, Arsenal are doing much better than their German opposition however Dortmund are very much a European team this season, comfortably sweeping aside all group opposition as though their stuttering domestic form is happening to a completely different side.

Wenger will want a strong response from his team and a big match against the group leaders, with any slight chance of usurping them balanced on this match, is the perfect platform to give one.

Progress to the next stage will be assured with a win or a draw but depending on results elsewhere Arsenal could even go through with a loss. Ideally Arsenal will want a significant win here so they can head to Turkey on matchday 6 with the top of the table in sight and easier opposition in the next round.

LAST 3 RESULTS

• Borussia Dortmund 2 - 0 Arsenal (16.09.14)
• Borussia Dortmund 0 - 1 Arsenal (06.11.13)
• Arsenal 1 - 2 Borussia Dortmund (22.10.13)

FACTFILE

• Each time Arsenal has faced Dortmund at home at least one side has scored 2 goals (Arsenal twice, BVB once)
• Arsenal haven't beaten German opposition at home since beating tonight's opposition in 2011
• If Monreal plays and picks up a card he will be forced to miss matchday 6
• The last three times Arsenal have played Borussia Dortmund in the same month they've lost to United they've beaten the German side

INJURIES

Ospina (thigh), Özil (knee), Debuchy (ankle), Walcott (groin), Gnabry (match fitness), Szczesny (hip) and Wilshere (ankle) will all miss this match

POSSIBLE STARTING XI (4-2-3-1)

Martinez; Chambers, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Ramsey, Arteta; Cazorla, Alexis; Chamberlain, Welbeck.

GOONERSPHERE'S PREDICTION

Arsenal 2 - 1 Borussia Dortmund

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