2. Dortmund unable to threaten the Arsenal goal
Yes, Dortmund had already qualified for the next stage of the competition. Yes, Marco Reus, their most influential attacker was out injured for the game. But that certainly doesn’t excuse the performance that the Germans put in against a side that hadn’t won against German opposition in their last four home games and had, only a few days ago lost to a injury-stricken Manchester United in a game that they should have won comfortably.
Although Dortmund were third from bottom in the Bundesliga, they had the best record in the Champions League so far and had only conceded one goal in their four matches so far. So the fact that Arsenal’s 22-year-old goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez had barely anything to do all game was something wouldn’t please Jurgen Klopp one bit. Aside from a save with a outstretched leg from a Henrikh Mkhitaryan shot in the first half, the Argentinean had nothing to do all game. For a side that had enjoyed almost 55% possession to have created almost nothing going forward is certainly not a good season. And it looks as though the domestic nightmares are starting to stand in the way of their European dreams.