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The Westfalenstadion is one of the most inspiring places to visit and Arsenal are going there in the right frame of mind.
If they carry the spirit of Saturday into Borussia Dortmund’s arena, they could even start their Champions League campaign with a win over the 2013 finalists.
Forget Arsene Wenger’s so-called injury crisis, which pales into insignificance next to Borussia’s - Mats Hummels, Marco Reus and Ilkay Gundogan are just three distinguished absentees (and there’s no need to worry about Robert Lewandowski any more) - and recall the draw with Manchester City.
We saw something new and improved about Arsenal.
Arsenal v Manchester City: Player Ratings
Disappointing though it was to let a 2-1 lead slip, there was a clear appreciation of where Wenger’s players went wrong into going toe-to-toe with top sides last season. The tempo was high from the start and, even more important, they had clearly been working on winning the ball back quickly.
As the tackles flew in on both sides, referee Mark Clattenburg had to keep a close watch but most of the challenges were legitimate and, in the end, the power game could have gone either way. It’s not always been the case with Arsenal — and it’s a vital improvement.
Of course Wenger likes his players to pass nicely and often. But you have to earn the right and even the finest passing team of his lifetime, the Barcelona of Pep Guardiola and, all too briefly, Tito Vilanova, almost snarled audibly and snapped visibly in their eagerness to win the ball back. Indeed it was defined by Guardiola as a vital part of their game.
Thierry Henry used to say the defensive aspects of his work at Barcelona left him incomparably more tired than he had been after Arsenal matches. It’s a good habit, though, and already Arsenal have benefited from it in the form of Alexis Sanchez. With early season energy, they can go into the Westfalenstadion and make a statement.
