Dortmund 1-1 Arsenal: Impressive work ethic brings great result despite Alan McInally
Wednesday, 14th Sep 2011 11:10

At times we were overrun in the first half as Alex Song was isolated and outnumbered in front of the back four but our attacking midfielders dropped deeper in the second half and a performance full of heart was only denied the reward of three points by a wonder strike at the death.

It was a goal reminiscent of Danny Rose’s, a point that was not lost on Pat Rice who gave some interesting comments after the game, although his veiled criticism of Robin van Persie highlighted his inexperience as a manager and the Dutchman may not have been too impressed.

The captain had a lonely game in general but his finish from Theo Walcott’s superb pass was impressive, particularly given the amount of time he had to think about it. The fact that he chose to use his weaker foot was pleasing and his potency with his right reduces his predictability as showing van Persie onto his right foot has been an easy, default opposition tactic for years.

This was another step in the right direction following the win on Saturday and Paul Merson was correct in his assessment that we are starting again with this team. Watching so many new players was refreshing and after years of the Champions League feeling stale, the atmosphere in the stadium and effort from our players was an engrossing spectacle.

The only detraction from this was the irritating Alan McInally. Sky’s co-commentator spent the majority of the match eulogising over a very average performance from Goetze, mistaking Song for Sagna and in one particularly excited first-half outburst, he declared that Dortmund would 100% win the group and that you would have got 100/1 on Arsenal leading the match at half time. Fortunately the team did not have to put up with his unhelpful input but Arsene Wenger may still have preferred to watch on TV rather than suffer the indignity of being chaperoned around the stadium fifteen minutes after the match had finished. UEFA have no class and showed no respect for one of the most revered managers in Europe.

The manager will make a welcome return to the bench for his side’s next test away to Blackburn on Saturday lunch time and will be encouraged by the last two results.

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Photo: Action Images

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