UEFA champions League: Arsenal 1 – 2 Dortmund: Tactical Analysis

Robert Lewandowski ended a fine run by Arsenal with a late strike

Spirits have been high at Ashburton Grove so far this season, as Arsenal have performed stunningly to move to the top of the table in England and in Europe.

This game against Dortmund was touted as their toughest test of the season thus far, as the finalists from last season came looking for some much needed points in this ‘Group of Death’.

Arsenal came into the game with one major injury concern, as Flamini missed out after his concussion on the weekend. Besides that, there were no surprises sprung by The Professor.

Sagna, Koscielny, Mertesacker and Gibbs were the back 4 in front of Sczcesny. Arteta too up the sitting role in front of the defence. Ramsey started off as the box to box midfielder, with Rosicky, Ozil and Wilshere ahead of them from left to right. The lone man up front was, as always, Giroud.

Dortmund also started with 9 of the team that began the Champions League finale at Wembley in May. Weidenfeller had the now usual 4 of Grosskreutz, Subotic, Hummels and Schmelzer in front of him. Bender and Sahin were the deep midfielders, and Kuba, Mkhitaryan, and Reus ahead of him. The in-demand Robert Lewandowski started up front.

via the Tactics Creator App

Dortmund Pressing

Borussia Dortmund have a poor away record in European games, and that probably has something to do with their game plan. Der BVB always look to press the opposition into submission, and often, it ends in them getting picked off. However, it was not always case during this game against the Gunners, as they really troubled Arsenal.

They attempted a large number of tackles and interceptions in the midfield and were quite successful as well. In fact, this pressing troubled the Gunners to a very large extent, and they even conceded the first goal after Ramsey lost it to Reus on the edge of the area.

Arsenal had a bit of trouble in building up their play from the back and the central areas were they love to build from. In general, it was a poor passing performance from Arsenal. They usually complete 84% of their passes, but they only managed about 82% today. The usually flawless Ramsey and Ozil were dispossessed 4 times each in the course of the match.

However, on the few occasions that Arsenal did manage to gain control of the ball and avoid the waves of pressure, Dortmund were quick to get back into their shape.

The mode of defence changed completely once Arsenal had found their rhythm, with the Dortmund team happy to make two lines of 4, and jockey the Arsenal player on the ball, rather than press him in an aggressive pursuit of the ball.

The other point to note was the direction of Dortmund’s pressing. Dortmund were consciously looking to show the Arsenal players inside to the crowded center.

Arsenal lacked any natural wide players up front, and this tactic made sense as Arsenal struggled to make many chances, especially in the first half.

A ploy Arsenal tried to use to sometimes avoid the onrushing Dortmund players was to chip the ball over them and play passes. The Arsenal players lifted the ball a large number of times during the game.

A number of interceptions from Dortmund in midfield – via squawka.com