3. Arsenal display defensive solidity
If there is one reason why the Gunners came into the game against Dortmund with an impending sense of doom, it was their inability to shut up shop. While it is true that they started the season with an inadequate number of defenders, the problem for them hasn’t one of quantity rather of quality. Chelsea too started with just six defenders but their quality has meant that no one has said anything about the Blues.
Against Dortmund, the home side finally showed signs that they are learning from their mistakes. 2-0 up with more than a half hour to go, the Arsenal side of a few weeks back would’ve pushed too many men forward and ended up losing their advantage. Here, instead of buckling under pressure, they showed that they can keep a clean sheet, which was incidentally their first in the Champions Europe in 2014. With the pace they have up front, there was never any need to over commit in attack and against the German side, they proved that as they sat deep, used ball intelligently and broke at lightning quick speed.