Borussia Dortmund vs Arsenal preview - Dortmund braced for Arsenal test

Posted Wednesday, November 06, 2013 by PA

Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp will leave no stone unturned to get the better of Arsenal again when the Barclays Premier League leaders visit Westfalenstadion on Wednesday night.

The well-drilled Bundesliga side secured a 2-1 win at the Emirates Stadium a fortnight ago with a late goal from Robert Lewandowski and warmed up for their next European challenge with a 6-1 victory over Stuttgart where the Poland forward plundered a hat-trick.

Dortmund are chasing what would be an eighth successive home Champions League win and have never lost against English opposition at the Westfalenstadion.

Arsenal, though, come into the tie on the back of a 2-0 victory over Liverpool which moved them five points clear at the top of the Premier League table.

The Gunners are also unbeaten in 14 away matches in all competitions since recording a famous win at Bayern Munich in March.

Klopp accepts his men, last season's Champions League runners-up, will have to deliver their own high-level performance to stay on course for qualification from Group F.

"We actually believe that it is an advantage to play at home and if we put all our quality on the pitch, we are very hard to play against. We are also very well prepared," Klopp said.

"Even if we had won the last 70 games at home, it wouldn't make any difference. It would be just a history, just statistics so therefore I wouldn't say the 14 games (unbeaten) away (for Arsenal) are an advantage."

Klopp added: "We are going to do video analysis and show the players some things, but it is going to be a tough game."

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger responded to Klopp's description of Arsenal's "orchestral" style compared to his own "heavy metal" brand with the hope that Wednesday night's encounter would turn out to be a "symphony" between two positive footballing sides.

The German coach is a big fan of Wenger's philosophy.

He said: "It was not about comparing the two sides, but I wanted to compare my work with his. The way I have known him, he has a very fine sense (of the game).

"Nevertheless, I am expecting a great fight between the two sides, with a lot of man-on-man tackles."

Dortmund are likely to be without German defender Mats Hummels because of hamstring problem on Wednesday, so Greece international Sokratis Papastathopoulos looks set to stand in again.

Wenger has challenged his side to invoke the spirit which saw them beat Bayern Munich when they take on Dortmund.

While Dortmund have never lost against English opposition at the Westfalenstadion, Arsenal were within two minutes of winning there in September 2011.

Wenger sees no reason why they should not adopt a confident approach again as they did on the last visit to Germany in March, when victory over the eventual European champions kick-started a superb end to the campaign.

"We take belief from Bayern. We play everywhere to win and that will not change of course, we will have a positive attitude in our approach to the game," Wenger said.

"We have played everywhere in Europe and always had the same approach and will be again like that.

"It is difficult to predict what will happen, that is what makes football great. Dortmund are positive, we are very positive. At least that will guarantee both teams will try to win the game."

In response to Klopp's description of Arsenal's "orchestral" style compared to his own "heavy metal" brand, the Gunners boss joked: "I am not a great specialist in music, but Dortmund is a very good football team and Arsenal as well, therefore we should see a good symphony."

Arsenal travelled to Dortmund without England midfielder Jack Wilshere, who is nursing an ankle problem which could well cause him to miss both the Premier League game at Manchester United on Sunday and also sit out the next round of international friendlies.

Wilshere is set for another scan on Thursday. Wenger said: "If that is not successful he will definitely be out for Sunday. And if he is out for Sunday, then he will be out for England as well."

German midfielder Serge Gnabry has shrugged off his ankle problem while full-back Kieran Gibbs, who hobbled off against Liverpool with a hip injury, is also in the travelling squad.

Midfielder Mathieu Flamini (groin) could be back to face United but England forward Theo Walcott will have to wait until after the international break to fully recover from minor abdominal surgery.

France forward Olivier Giroud will again lead the Arsenal attack, looking to add to his eight-goal tally.