Borussia hold Arsenal at home

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Borussia hold Arsenal at home

Borussia Dortmund started their UEFA Champions League group stage campaign with a 1-1 draw against Arsenal whom the Germans held last night at the Signal Iduna Park stadium where Perisic scored a late leveler for the Bundesliga champions.

Van Persie opened the score for the Gunners late in the first half but that was not sufficient for an away win. Arsene Wenger’s side were dominated at times as Borussia mocked several clear chances which could have brought them a big success in their UEFA Champions League debut. Arsenal got the first big chance early in the sixth minute through newly arrived Gervinho whose finish was saved by Hummels.

Dortmund broke back as just but Kevin Grosskreutz’s lazi shot went over the bar. Kagawa missed a golden chance in the tenth minute after being perfectly served by Hummels. The Japanese struck it well over the bar though he should have done much better from that area.

Sagna provided a providential save in the 13^th minute. Lewandowski picked Goetze who beat keeper Szczesny, but not the French defender, too. Sagna cleared the air from the line in what could have been an easy opener for the home side.

Grosskretuz fired it over the bar in the 18^th minute following an action from the right which the Germans’ left midfielder mocked too easily. Van Persie’s first sparkle came after half an hour when the Dutch was denied by Borussia keeper who gifted the visitors a corner instead.

Walcott’s through pass met free Van Persie 20 yards out to beat the keeper from the edge of the box. Arsenal, whose manager Arsene Wenger was watching the game from the stands, entered the locker rooms with a minimal but precious advantage.

The early minutes of the second half belonged to the same English side who neared the second goal in the 60^th minute. Gervinho got into a one to one situation with keeper Weidenfeller whom the former Lille player could not beat.

Dortmund put more pressure in the last ten minutes. Jurgen Klopp’s side won a corner in the 81^st minute which Subotic converted into a dangerous shot keeper Szczesny managed to save at the death. One minute later, Goetze mocked yet another clear chance, striking it wide of the near post.

With two minutes left, Dortmund brought the leveler through Perisic who gave his side a precious point with a tremendous screamer from 20 yards or so straight into the top corner. Things could have gone much worse for Arsenal in the last minute when Szczesny denied Lewandowski in a almost one to one situation.

Both coaches used all their three substitutions. Perisic and Blaszczykowski replaced Kehl and Grosskreutz in the 69^th minute for Borussia, while Kagawa made way for M. Zidan with five minutes left. On the other side, Arsenal introduced Frimpong, Andre Santos and Chamakh for Walcott, Van Persie and Walcott.

Said Arsenal defender after the game: “Over 90 minutes I thought we defended really, really well. Even the free-kick they scored from I thought we defended good, but the guy put it in the top corner and he’ll probably never do that again. I thought we were going to see it through, but in the end we were happy with a point.”

Arsenal are second in the group F with one point, having Dortmund right behind them. Olympique Marseille lead the group with three points thanks to a 1-0 win obtained last night against Olympiacos at the Karaiskaki stadium.

Arsene Wenger’s side will next meet the Greeks on September 28 at the Emirates, while Borussia travel to Marseille the same day.

Borussia Dortmund – Weidenfeller; Schmelzer, Hummels, Subotic, Piszczek; Bender, Kehl, Grosskreutz, Kagawa, Gotze; Lewandowski. Reserves: I. Gundogan, A. da Silva, M. Zidan, I. Perisic, J. Blaszczykowski, Felipe Santana, M. Langerak.

Arsenal – Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Arteta, Song; Walcott, Benayoun, Gervinho; van Persie. Andre Santos, E. Frimpong, A. Arshavin, J. Djourou, C. park, L. Fabianski.

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