Arsenal need to get defensive tonight!

The Gunners face a daunting away clash against Borussia Dortmund on Matchday 1 of the 2014/15 Champions League campaign. Albeit an attractive fixture in the eyes of Football fanatics and supporters of both clubs, the repetitive nature of a ‘dubious’ group stage draw has meant that Arsenal have now been drawn alongside Borussia Dortmund for the third time in the last 4 seasons. But, going into Tuesday night’s game in the Westfalenstadion, Arsenal, as a team, need to get into Champions League mode if they are to make progress and go past the R-16, this season.

Why Arsenal need to get into Champions League mode?

Arsenal’s season, which has seen them win just 2 of the 6 competitive games, hasn’t yet got going. And, although Wenger’s wizards did put up a rollicking display against Manchester City in the Premier League last Saturday, the failure to hold onto the lead, after going ahead in the 73rd minute of the game, could be looked at as ‘calamitous’.
Going into the Champions League, Arsenal cannot afford such lapses – defensively, while the offensive side of things will take care of themselves. Arsenal’s flair and ammunition in the middle and final-third of the pitch mean that they won’t go a lot of games without scoring, which, subsequently, emphasizes the dogmatism to remain watertight at the back.

Coming to tonight’s clash against Dortmund, Arsenal’s defence needs to be particularly wary of the likes of Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan – who can be deceptively quick, and will play a key role in Dortmund’s scheme of things. Here, you are talking about two Footballing sides that play with different philosophies; Arsenal play possession football, embellished by intricate passing moves. Dortmund, whereas, are largely about being defensively compact, and harness the pace they have got on the break.

Aubameyang, with the departure of Lewandowski, is central to Klopp’s plans, as he is akin to what Sanchez can render for Arsenal. Pace, in the past, has caused problems for Arsenal’s defence and, with that in mind, Kagawa could prove to be a key factor in Tuesday night’s game, as well.

Final Thought
Victories in Champions League games are built at the back solid defensive displays, which is just what Arsenal need to be doing, starting tonight, against Dortmund. And, going by their defensive displays this season, so far, they need to tighten up at the back, albeit keeping their offensive prowess intact.

Tags Aubameyang Kagawa Mkhitaryan

26 Comments

  1. They need to get defensive. Or they need to get offensive. Or they need to do both. One of those three – in the end we must wait and see.

    1. Defensive? They’re lacking some of their best players all over the pitch. We should be looking to control this game.

  2. Seriously, we are only some days since the transfer window close and Wenger is already digging and scrounging for defensive help. Reports that Wenger is searching for free agent defenders and hoping for any current defender to be even 70% fit to play. Wenger really got this one right – a new low in transfer apathy and failure.

  3. A win of any kind is all I want,even if it’s a scruffy goal that needs 2 deflections to go in as long as we win that’s all that matters!

    1. You are right. But it is sad Wenger has put the club in the position that fans are not confidant in a big performance or a win. Rather we are just hoping to squeeze by. Very sad.

  4. Getting defensive with the players available tonight will get us toasted. I believe the game is for the taking if we don’t hold back. We have some trigger happy kid upfront in Sanchez.

  5. I don’t know if I can stomach watching another game of Ozil playing on the left flank, he just looks out of place and lost… We need to play 4-2-3-1 tonight:
    Szszesny
    Chambers(if fit) Mert Kos Gibbs
    Arteta Ramsey
    Sanchez Ozil Wilshere
    Welbeck

    I’ve said to put Wilshere on the left because I remember for a period of last season he played there and played really well. If not, bench Ozil to rest him and put Wilshere as CAM and Ox in for Ozil on the left wing.

  6. No Reus, Blaszczykowski, Sahin, Hummels or Gundogan. Kagawa and Jojic in doubt. No Lewandowski this time.

    This is a huge chance. All we need to do is show up and I believe we will outclass them. COYG!

  7. Their fans are famously loud and passionate, the lads need to shut them up by playing some top quality football and taking Dortmund by surprise!

  8. If wellback starts, we can be a dangerous counter attacking team. So my strategy will be sit back, keep it close and hit on the counter attack. If done properly, we can seriously hurt them. COYG!!!

  9. Play offensively and score early.

    They are missing Hummels, Gundagan and Bender so they will struggle defensively. Lets take advantage of it.

    They also don’t have Reus and Lewqandowski so lets take advantage of that and get a clean sheet.

    We have a rare opportunity to nor only win at Dortmund but win big.

  10. Reus, Sahin, Gundagun, Hummels, Sokratis, Bender, Blaszczykowski all out for them. And you think we should go defensive? They have their key players all out. I don’t think our injuries compare to theirs.

  11. play defensive? we should’nt for 2 reasons.
    1) they are missing major/important players who can push us and thus we should dominate and play offensive.
    2) do we have players to go defensive? as much as I support, I am not blind in our deficiency. Dortmund will play fast game and our defense will not be able to cope if we try and play like that.

    1. I would say play possession football, pass and pass and pass, let them chase the ball. It is kind of defensive tactic but Arsenal can never play defensive football like Chelsea because of the lack of that type of players.

  12. Either way we do it, all we need is absolutely 3 points. It is very important we start our early group lead as soon as possible. Attacking them should be our major priorities and defend wisely!

  13. I would bench Ozil and let the Prince take over. He has been lethal in European games. Still remember the cracker he scored against Bayern, Neuer never saw it coming until it was at the back of the net. Let his left foot do the talking..

    1. team to play Dortmund: Szczesny, Bellerin, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Arteta, Wilshere, Ramsey, Alexis, Ozil, Welbeck

  14. my moneys on going back to 4231 when walcott gets back otherwise we will be all over the place in the front area, i cant imagine that wenger can teach ozil any new lessons on how to be better by playing him on the left ozil was already top class when he arrived endorsed by the troll clown from the bridge as worlds best no 10, and when he says that it must be right as he dont give praise out easily.
    wenger need to get a grip tatically and sort out this mess and maybe bring in george graham for some defence coaching classes he will whip the defence in to shape lol.

  15. on another matter does anyone know if it possible for one of the shareholders to set up an external holdings company and transfer arsenals stadium debt to it and take off the debt from the clubs books officially so we are debt free moving on.
    this would be a great idea as its what chelsea have done with all there debt to the russian mobster that owns them.
    And it just means that the shareholders could use one of there businesses as collateral against the bond repayments instead of the debt being against the club its only £250million that’s nothing for them you would probably find they could use the debt to there own ends to make more wealth for themselves.

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