As Arsene Wenger rallies his troops for a crucial encounter at the Signal Iduna Park, we take a look back at what happened when the Gunners visited the Westfalenstadion for the first time back in 2002.
Borussia DortmundAi??v Arsenal FC
Arsenal went to Borussia Dortmund with 3 back-to-back defeats in all competitions and hopeful of a change in fortunes. Arsene Wenger sprung up with a couple of eyebrow-raising changes in team selection, starting with Pires after a 7 month injury layoff and starting Ljungberg alongside Henry in a 4-4-2. The Dortmund manager Mathhias Sammer started with Ewerthon and Ricken in place of Amoroso and Reuter from the side that beat Bremen in the league. While Arsenal were struggling, Dortmund had enjoyed a wonderful league campaign, remaining unbeaten after 10 games and going strong.
The game started explosively with Dortmund hitting the woodwork within 2 minutes of the start as the Arsenal defence were caught napping. The English side then slowly got a grip on the game and put pressure back on the hosts with Wiltord and Henry shooting wide. Koller hit the woodwork yet again and the North Londoners were living dangerously. Arsene Wenger had remained positive in the build up to the game quoting: “The players haven’t lost quality overnight” ai??i?? and Thierry Henry proved just that with a peach of a free kick to beat future Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann in goal.
The goal was followed by a flurry of Arsenal attacks,with Ljungberg and Vieira heavily involved. The Arsenal captain fed Ljungberg who burst into the box and cut the ball in for Vieira whose first time shot flew wide and Arsene Wenger’s reaction said how massive an opportunity was missed there.
With half time drawing in, Koller was fouled and the ensuing free kick was targeted for the tall Czech striker, but it was Gilberto who got the touch as the ball crossed the line for a Dortmund equalizer. The goal so close to half-time changed the mood in the Arsenal camp, and despite Wiltord looking dangerous on the break, Arsenal spent most of the game sitting deep. Dortmund continued to attack in the second half without looking particularly dangerous until Seaman brought Koller down inside the box and the Borussians were given a soft penalty which, when seen on replay, looked fortunate at best. Tomas Rosicky stepped up and beat David Seaman for the second time on the night and it looked like curtains for the away side thereafter. Henry went close with a header but Lehmann was up to the task and kept the Frenchman at bay. Pires, Gilberto and Wiltord were subbed thereafter but it was a case of too little too late as Arsenal could hardly muster many opportunities, and Dortmund clinched a crucial win in the Group A encounter, going top of the group.
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