Arsenal through after victory over Dortmund
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Article summary
Arsenal FC 2-0 Borussia Dortmund
Yaya Sanogo's first competitive goal for the club helped Arsenal seal progress from the autumn group stage for the 15th season in a row.
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• Yaya Sanogo scores inside two minutes, his first competitive goal for Arsenal
• Alexis Sánchez hits 13th goal of the season on 57 minutes to make it 2-0
• Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, 21, makes his 100th appearance for Arsenal
• Gunners advance from the group phase for the 15th season in a row
• Exclusive behind the scenes photos from tonight's game at the Arsenal Stadium
• Next games: Galatasaray v Arsenal, Dortmund v Anderlecht (9 December)
Arsenal FC secured their place in the UEFA Champions League knockout phase with a 2-0 victory against already-qualified Borussia Dortmund that leaves top spot in Group D still to play for.
Yaya Sanogo and Alexis Sánchez scored in each half as the home side bounced back from a disappointing 3-3 draw against RSC Anderlecht here last time out to inflict a first defeat of the European campaign on the German visitors.
Arsenal got off to a terrific start and went ahead in the second minute. Cazorla exchanged passes with Sanogo on the right and the 21-year-old slotted his first Arsenal goal under the advancing Roman Weidenfeller. Sanogo was only in the team because of injury to Danny Welbeck and the Frenchman nearly had another soon after when he burst clear only to miscontrol in the area.
Dortmund slowly worked their way back into the game, but it was not until the 20thminute that they really threatened. Łukasz Piszczek crossed low from the right and the ball flashed tantalisingly across goal and just out of Ciro Immobile's reach. Moments later Henrikh Mkhitaryan fired over as Dortmund pressed.
Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, standing in for the injured Wojciech Szczęsny, was tested for the first time six minutes before the interval and proved up to the task. İlkay Gündoğan played the ball deep into the area where Piszczek headed it back into the path of Mkhitaryan, whose low shot was well blocked by the Argentinian's legs.
Arsenal were back in the ascendancy at the start of the second half. Weidenfeller dived at full stretch to keep out Cazorla's low drive, then moments later Arsenal came even closer, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain striking the bar with a dipping drive on his 100th appearance for the club.
The second goal was not long in coming and it was no surprise that it was the inspirational Alexis Sánchez who scored it. The Chilean curled in his 13th goal of the season for Arsenal with a low shot from the just outside the area that left Weidenfeller no chance. Arsenal could yet snatch top spot from Dortmund.