Arsenal CAN win the Champions League with Mesut Ozil says Dortmund boss Klopp
Arsenal CAN win the Champions League with Mesut Ozil says Dortmund boss Klopp
"This team missed one player and maybe it can be him. He has everything. I would pay for a ticket to watch this game"
Gunner go close: Klopp fancies Arsenal's Champions League chances
Dennis Grombkowski
Jurgen Klopp says Mesut Ozil is Arsenal's missing link - and can turn them into European champions.
Borussia Dortmund coach Klopp turned his pre-match press conference for Tuesday's Champions League visit to the Gunners into a love-in for Arsene Wenger and his team.
The
46-year-old, who steered Dortmund to last season's final and defeat to
German rivals Bayern Munich, believes fellow German Ozil has put the
Londoners on the road to greatness.
"This team missed one player
and maybe it can be Mesut Ozil," said Klopp of the club-record
£42million summer buy from Real Madrid.
"He is technically
perfect, he is fast and has developed a drive to goal. He is very
intelligent, can play in any team. He has everything, is natural and it
works very well.
"That is why it was a great idea from Arsenal and not so from the one (team) who let him go. Mister perfect: Ozil has it all says Borussia Dortmund coach Klopp
Getty
"As a supporter, this is one of the most beautiful types of football to watch, I like it.
"I would pay for a ticket to watch this game.
"Who (ever) is strong enough to be champions in the Premier League is, of course, strong enough to go to the final of the Champions League.
"Now they are back in the race (for titles) and we want to stop them.
"They
have more points (than us), are in first place in one of the strongest
leagues in the world and they play at home, so will be favourites."
Klopp will not have to pay for his ticket, but will have to watch from the stands.
He is serving a touchline ban after blowing his top in his team's defeat at Napoli.
Meanwhile, Dortmund's Nuri Sahin, who had a spell at
Liverpool last season on loan from Real Madrid, claimed he nearly joined
Arsenal on THREE different occasions.
The midfielder said: "It
was very close - three times in my career I was almost at Arsenal. When I
was 16, last year and I can't remember the other time." Loan star: Real Madrid have farmed Sahin out to Liverpool and now Dortmund
Andrew Powell
Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini is out of the Dortmund match.
Flamini
trained normally on Monday morning but has been ruled out by the
five-day concussion rule imposed after his clash of heads with Norwich's
Alex Tettey.
Arsenal boss Wenger confirmed that Flamini is fit,
trained normally and has suffered no ill effects but they are bound by
the medical rules.
Nuri Sahin
Remember him? Nearly joined Arsenal last summer, went to Liverpool on
loan from Real Madrid, flopped and is now back on loan at Dortmund, who
sold him to Real in 2011, and trying to rebuild his career. Robert Lewandowski Dortmund's
star striker, main man and biggest threat. A terrific centre-forward
set to be Europe's most sought-after if he becomes a free agent next
summer. Jakub Blaszczykowski Dangerous right winger. Poland's captain. Like countryman Lewandowski, will be hoping for better result in north London this midweek than last.
Arsenal vs Borussia Dortmund: Facts and stats
Arsenal have won their two opening games of a Champions League campaign for the seventh time in the last nine seasons. Dortmund have never kept a clean sheet in four Champions League games against Arsenal.
Arsenal have won their last three Champions League games, the last time they won four was in 2005 (six, from March to November) Dortmund's
only away win in England in the Champions League dates back to April
1997 against Manchester Utd (1-0). Since then, they have suffered three
defeats and a draw.
Arsenal have won their two home games against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League (4 goals scored, 1 conceded). Dortmund
have won only one of their last 11 Champions League games played
outside Signal Iduna Park (four draws, six defeats) - that was against
Ajax at the Amsterdam Arena last season.
Arsenal have only
lost four of their last 47 home games in the Champions League (33 wins,
10 draws), but the last two defeats have both come against German sides
(Schalke and Bayern Munich in 2012-13). Mesut Ozil has delivered more assists than any other player in the Champions League since 2010-11 (15).
Only four of Robert Lewandowski's 13 Champions League goals have been scored away from home.
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