Arsenal in the mood to make Borussia Dortmund face the music in Champions League crunch
Arsenal in the mood to make Borussia Dortmund face the music in Champions League crunch
Wenger urges his "orchestra" not to repeat mistakes they made in home loss to Klopp's "heavy metal" Germans two weeks ago
Unfinished symphony: Will Wenger conduct Arsenal to victory?
Arsene Wenger has promised to hit all the right notes to ensure Arsenal produce their own Champions League symphony, writes John Cross in Dortmund.
Borussia
Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp claimed in the build-up to Wednesday's
showdown that the Londoners were like an “orchestra but they play a
silent song” after going eight years of attractive football without a
trophy.
Klopp claimed he prefers footballing “heavy metal”, and
while opposite number Wenger found the musical comparison amusing he
promised his Gunners will drown out the noise in the 80,000-capacity Westfalenstadion with all-out attack.
Ahead of the crucial Champions League group game, Gunners boss Wenger said: “I am not a great specialist in music. Dortmund is a
very good football team and Arsenal as well, therefore we should see a good symphony.
“We
do take belief from winning at Bayern Munich last season. We play
everywhere to win. That will not change and, of course, we will have a
positive attitude
in our game, in our approach to the game.
“Dortmund
is a good side but we have played everywhere in Europe and we have
always had the same approach. We will be again like that. It’s difficult
to predict what will happen.
“That’s
what makes football great as well but Dortmund is a very positive side,
we are a very positive side so at least you have the guarantee that the
two teams will try to win the game.” Gunner laugh: Klopp's heavy metal vs orchestra line amused Wenger
Lars Baron
It
is a collision where something will have to give. Since winning at Bayern in March, Arsenal have won 13 of their 14 away games and drawn one; while Dortmund are looking for their eighth straight home
win in the Champions League.
Arsenal’s
victory in Munich did not stop them going out to Bayern, but it has
proved
a turning point and the catalyst for a revival in fortunes which has
seen Wenger's men go five points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Their
task in the Champions League is potentially even harder as they face
last season’s beaten finalists - the Gunners are locked with Napoli and
Dortmund on six points and need a result here after losing to Klopp’s men at the Emirates a fortnight ago.
And, as Wenger looks to reach the Champions League's knock-out stage for the 14th year running,
Arsenal will be facing a team in strong form.
“As
we have lost the game at home, the away games are very important for us
now,” said the Frenchman, who believes playing away from home has been easier up until recently.
“Maybe we had not the same belief at home because we failed in a few big home
games and you could feel there was a bit more scepticism and less belief maybe. Hopefully we got that behind us with the Liverpool game.
“We
want to
do well in all the competitions. It was a disappointment to go out in
the League Cup last week but, of course, the priorities are the Premier
League and the Champions League.
“The
fact we are in a good position in the Premiership does not change the fact we want to do well in the Champions League as well.”
Wenger
also
took a swipe at Klopp, who had pointed out that his players ran a total
of 10 kilometres more than Arsenal's team did at the Emirates.
And
he insisted the Gunners will not get caught out by the same kind of
sucker-punch as a fortnight ago, even though they will be going all out
to win.
Wenger added: “It’s important, the distances. But it’s not
just how far you run, how much you run. How intelligently you run -
often the best teams can run less.
“It’s important that against a
team like Dortmund, who have a high potential, that you work hard,
especially when their players are capable of raising their level to the
maximum. Yellow peril: Arsenal hang their heads as Dortmund celebrate victory
AFP
“I believe we lost the first game because we absolutely
wanted to win it at any cost and we exposed ourselves. If you look at
the first game, neither of
the two keepers has a save to make.
“In
the end, we got caught on the counter-attack because we were all up front.
"We
pushed forward because we were not happy with the draw. But when you
cannot win a game, at least don’t lose it because you are not cautious
enough.
“That’s what happened in the game. I don’t think it will affect us. It will strengthen
the resolve of my team because they will want to come out and show a different level.”
Marco Reus
So impressive in the reverse fixture at the Emirates. He was the
creative brain of their midfield. His £30m buy-out clause looks a snip. Robert Lewandowski Dortmund’s
striker, main man and biggest threat. A terrific centre-forward, who
can expect offers galore if he becomes a free agent next summer. Jakub Blaszczykowski Poland captain. Right winger will pose a direct threat to Arsenal’s defence.
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