Arsenal vs. Borussia Dortmund – UEFA Champions League Preview
Barclays Premier League giants Arsenal will take on the German Champions, Borussia Dortmund, in a highly anticipated UEFA Champions League at the Emirates Stadium. The match is scheduled for November 23, 2011.
Arsenal keen to stay unbeaten
Both sides have successfully recovered from poor starts to their respective seasons, and are in good form in their domestic competitions.
Arsenal have been in an excellent touch in the last two months, as the Gunners impressively recovered from their early season slump. The North London club have won seven of their last eight fixtures in all competitions.
Dortmund have also been able to recover from their poor start of the season and are unbeaten in the last eight matches. The BVB, who are currently placed second in the Bundesliga standings, recently recorded a morale boosting win over the current leaders,
Bayern Munich.
BVB will be hoping to extend their unbeaten run when they take on http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Arsenal-c38429. Arsene Wenger’s side has lost only once in their last 36 European fixtures at the Emirates Stadium, while recording 25 victories in the last three seasons - a tough game awaits Dortmund.
Arsenal are favourites to remain unbeaten in the group stage of the competition and will be eyeing a place in the next round with a match in hand.
Team News
Arsenal:
A number of key players will miss the crucial tie for Arsenal. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Bacary-Sagna-c7148 and Carl Jenkinson are both sidelined due to injuries.
Sagna broke his leg in Arsenal’s defeat to Tottenham Hotspur and will remain out of action till January. Jenkinson is suffering from an ankle injury and is expected to return in the next few weeks.
Laurent Koscielny is likely to start on the right flank of the defence after the French defender hugely impressed in that role in the last Premier League match against Norwich City.
Moreover, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Kieran-Gibbs-c20945 is also nursing his ankle injury and will not take part against Borussia Dortmund.
Tomas Rosicky has been declared unfit, however, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Abou-Diaby-c3453 has returned from his ankle surgery but the Frenchman will be named on the bench.
Borussia Dortmund:
The German champions welcomed the return of their key defender, Patrick Owomoyela, in the recent win over Bayern Munich; However, the 32-year-old is expected to be on the bench against Arsenal.
Marcel Schmelzer, who recently returned from an injury, is likely to start against Arsenal after the youngster hugely impressed against Munich on the weekend.
However, BVB will be without their key centre-back http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Julian-Koch-c19919 will also miss the trip to the Emirates Stadium.
Possible Line-ups
Arsenal
Starting XI: 13-Wojciech Szczesny; 6-http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Santos-c32532; 8-Mikel Arteta, 17-Alex Song, 16-Aaron Ramsey; 14-Theo Walcott, 10-Robin Van Persie 62, 27-Gervinho
Substitutions:
21-Lukasz Fabianski, 20-Johan Djourou, 2-Abou Diaby, 30-Yossi Benayoun, 23-Andrey Arshavin, 9-Chu-Young Park, 29-Marouane Chamakh.
Borussia Dortmund
Starting XI: 1-Roman Weidenfeller; 27-Felipe http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Marcel-Schmelzer-c23530; 11-Mario Goetze, 23-Shinji Kagawa, 22-Sven Bender, 19-Kevin Grosskreutz, 5-Sebastian Kehl; 9-Robert Lewandowski.
Substitutions:
20-Mitchell Langerak, 16-Jakub Blaszczykowski, 21-Ilkay Gündogan, 24-Chris Löwe, 18-Lucas http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Patrick-Owomoyela-c29304.
Prediction:
Both teams are in good form, however, Arsenal will be favourites to emerge victors at the Emirates Stadium. The final score-line will be 2-1 in favour of the hosts.
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