Finally, something positive. Arsenal procured their passage to the knock-out stages of the Champions League with a 2-0 win at the Emirates against Dortmund. Yaya Sanogo, starting only because Danny Wellbeck was injured, scored his first goal for Arsenal as they defeated Borussia Dortmund and ensured their passage into the Champions League knockout stage. The 21-year-old netted after 19 appearances without a goal when he finished off a one-two with Santi Cazorla with a low shot early on. Alexis Sanchez made it 2-0 after the break with a superb low curling shot. Sanchez also had a shot pushed away, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain struck the crossbar with a dipping volley.
That the first goal was scored by a player who was the source of some ridicule on social media when the teams were announced before the match. Sanogo’s ungainly style has irked some fans and there was further astonishment when he was named ahead of Germany World Cup winner Lukas Podolski. But he finally managed to temper some of that criticism when he converted his first effort after starting the move with a ball-juggle and backheel to Spaniard Cazorla. However of much concern is that he and Arteta both had to leave the match injured. Major concern I might add as ou players keep getting injured every other game. Wellbeck, Walcott, Wilshere, Szcz?sny – not to mention Debuchy & Ozil who have been out for a while and with Koscielny & Giroud just coming back from long weeks out! What the fuck!
Goalkeeper Martinez was finally forced to make a big save in stoppage time when he dived to keep out substitute Adrian Ramos’s effort. The win moves Arsenal to 10 points in Group D and a victory over Galatasaray coupled with Dortmund losing to Anderlecht in the final round of games would see Wenger’s side go through as winners. Monreal, Chambers, Gibbs, Arteta & Chamberline had good performances and it was fun to see. Can we build on this? Can we go on and win more games and go something this season? I dunno. One win is not going to change my mind on Wenger. He still has got to go.