Arsenal 2-0 Dortmund
Arsenal beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 thanks to an early goal from 21-year-old French striker Yaya Sanogo and a second-half strike from Alexis Sanchez. Victory was enough to secure passage into the knock-out stages, for the Gunners, who even have an outside shot at claiming top spot in the group.
Here are the major talking points from the game.
1. Cazorla back to his best
Although the defence was the big area of concern at the start of the season, there was one attacker who simply didn’t pull his weight for the team. Whether it was the result of being asked played wide left or in a deeper position, Santi Cazorla didn’t have the greatest of starts to the season. The Spaniard struggled to create much offensively and even when he was presented with opportunities, he fluffed his lines.
Against Dortmund, playing as the central attacking midfielder, the Spaniard showed just how effective he can be when used more centrally. Whether it was spraying balls to either flanks with both feet or getting himself out of a tight spot, the 29-year-old midfielder excelled against Dortmund and delivered a man-of-the-match performance. Although he didn’t score a goal, Cazorla ensured that the Gunners not only kept the ball, but also kept it moving forward as he controlled the tempo of the game and ensured the side’s safe passage into their 15th straight Round of 16 tie.