Arsenal secured their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League by seeing off Borussia Dortmund 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium this evening.
It took less than two minutes for the Gunners to get off the mark with Yaya Sanogo bagging his first goal for the club, before Alexis Sanchez doubled his side's advantage with a curling effort from long range shortly before the hour.
Dortmund, who still remain top of Group D despite this defeat, failed to create any real openings as they went in search of a route back into the game, with the hosts seeing out the contest fairly comfortably in the end.
Look back at how the 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text commentary of Arsenal's Champions League Group D clash against Borussia Dortmund.
The Gunners may have endured their worst start to a campaign in some 32 years, but a point at the Emirates Stadium this evening will be enough for them to progress through to the knockout stages of the competition for the 15th season in succession.
It has been a strange season to date for Dortmund, meanwhile, who currently occupy a relegation playoff spot in the Bundesliga table, although having won each of their four games in Europe's showpiece tournament, they are already safely through to the next round.
That doesn't mean that the visitors have nothing to play for, though, with a point this evening enough for them to claim top spot in the group. That will very much be the target for the Gunners as well, although their collapse against Anderlecht prior to the international break means that anything less than three points this evening and they can surely kiss those hopes of topping the group goodbye.
At this point of the group stage, with just two games remaining, there are many permutations going into each match. From Arsenal's perspective it is pretty simple: Gain a point this evening and qualification is secured, although that will suit Dortmund just find also, in the knowledge that a draw is enough for them to top Group D - thus setting up an 'easier' fixture in the next round.
In fact, Arsenal can also lose tonight and still progress should Anderlecht and Galatasaray play out a draw. Still with me? Good. Updates will be provided throughout the night, in what should be another fascinating matchday in the Champions League.
Right, with the permutations out of the way with, let's move onto some team news...
TEAM NEWS!
ARSENAL STARTING XI: Martinez, Chambers, Mertesacker, Monreal, Gibbs, Arteta, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Alexis, Cazorla, Sanogo
BORUSSIA DORTMUND STARTING XI: Weidenfeller, Piszczek, Subotic, Ginter, Schmelzer, Gündogan, Bender, Groskreutz, Aubameyang, Mkhitaryan, Immobile
Not for the first time in the Champions League this season, Arsenal are without Wojciech Szczesny between the sticks, meaning that third-choice stopper Emiliano Martinez is tasked with shutting out the opposition. Nacho Monreal slots in at the heart of defence once more, despite some shaky performances, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain makes his 100th appearance in an Arsenal shirt.
Olivier Giroud returned to action last weekend in the Gunners' 2-1 defeat at the hands of Manchester United, although he was not registered for European action - at this stage of the competition, at least - while Danny Welbeck is absent. It means a start up top for Yaya Sanogo, who will no doubt be keen to impress in front of his home support this evening.
Arsenal have had their fair share of injury problems this season, and it is an identical story for tonight's visitors. Sokratis has not featured since before the international break, while Mats Hummels has only recently returned to training following a spell on the sidelines. Jakub Blaszczykowski and Nuri Sahin have not played all season, meanwhile, which goes some way to explaining BVB's poor start to the Bundesliga season.
The biggest blow of all is the loss of Marco Reus, who having finally found his feet again, picked up a nasty injury last time out which will see him miss the remainder of the year. There is some good news for Dortmund heading into this one, though, with Sven Bender fit enough to start having missed the weekend draw against Padderborn.
Yet even with their growing injury concerns, Die Borussen still pack a real punch across the field. None more so is that true than up front, where Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Ciro Immobile lead the way. Borussia know how to score goals, and they know how to keep teams out also in this competition having conceded just once all campaign.
BENCH WATCH!
ARSENAL SUBSTITUTES: Huddart, Koscielny, Bellerin, Flamini, Rosicky, Campbell, Podolski
BORUSSIA DORTMUND SUBSTITUTES: Langerak, Durm, Hornschuh, Kehl, Jojic, Kagawa, Ramos
One name in particular really jumps out from the Arsenal bench; that of centre-back Laurent Koscielny, who is back among the matchday squad tonight for the first time since mid-October. How the Gunners could do with him in their backline right now! Joel Campbell and Lukas Podolski are once more named among the substitutes, and between them they must be growing more and more frustrated by the week.
Well Arsenal fans will need no reminding that they haven't been particularly good this season. It's hard to work out why exactly they have failed to match the start they made this time 12 months ago, but having spent £80m in the summer, their current position of 8th place in the Premier League really is shocking.
The fanbase is largely divided over the current manager, with some suggesting that Arsene Wenger is still the man to lead them to glory, while others maintain that the Frenchman has became somewhat outdated. Whichever way you look at it, the Gunners have struggled in recent weeks, perfectly summed up by the fact that they threw away a three-goal lead last time out in this competition.
I covered that game a few weeks back when Arsenal collapsed at 3-0 up, but in truth even in the opening stages they looked shaky and probably should have fallen behind on a couple of occasions. It hasn't improved since; a 1-0 advantage was thrown away at Swansea, while Manchester United somehow took all three points on the weekend. And yet a point tonight will ensure that Wenger has led his charges into the knockout stages of the Champions League for the 15th year in succession. That is no mean feat.
It is easy to see why Arsenal supporters are so torn over the matter. The ultimate frustration, in this competition at least, stems from the fact that the North London outfit seem to finish in second place year after year. That of course leads to a tougher fixture in the first knockout round, which has proved to be the Gunners' downfall in each of the last four seasons. They need to win tonight to avoid a repeat scenario.
Congratulations to @Alex_OxChambo who makes his 100th @Arsenal appearance tonight #AFCvBOR pic.twitter.com/2p0arBrkXg
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) November 26, 2014
As far as tonight's visitors go, they would snatch your hands off to be in the same league position as Arsenal. The Gunners may be experiencing a 'crisis' of sorts, while over in Germany BVB are down in the relegation playoff zone. That is truly incredible for a side who were expected to push Bayern Munich all the way at the top this season.
They may have lost Robert Lewandowski over the summer, but Jurgen Klopp - the man widely seen as Wenger's future successor at the Emirates Stadium - spent well to replace the Polish forward. Much like the situation at Arsenal, it is hard to truly pin down where it has all gone wrong for the German outfit, although the numerous injury problems certainly haven't helped matters.
What makes their domestic plight even more fascinating is the fact that their form in the Champions League is the best on the continent. Four wins from four, 13 goals scored and just one conceded - it really is a bizarre scenario, and at this stage it's looking as though Klopp's men will have to have the lift the famous trophy in May if they are to play at this level in 12 months' time.
HEAD-TO-HEAD: These two sides have certainly got to know each other well in recent times having been placed in the same group in three of the last four years. In their seven meetings to date their is nothing between them; three wins apiece, one game drawn, while both have scored and conceded eight goals across those fixtures. It really is a tough one to call.
DID YOU KNOW? I've already touched on the fact that Dortmund have won their opening four games in the Champions League this term... the last time that happened, back in the 1996-97 campaign, they went on to win the competition.
PREDICTION: As mentioned, this is a very tough game to call. Both have struggled domestically, while Dortmund have certainly had the better of things in Europe's showpiece competition. The games between the two tend to be close, and I believe that will be the case this evening in a 1-1 draw.
.@BVB are averaging more goals a game at 3.25 than any other team in the #UCL, 13 from four matches so far.
— Michael Harrold (@UEFAcomMichaelH) November 26, 2014
Well the teams are out onto the field, the Champions League anthem played and all the pre-match handshakes out the way with. While this game is not quite make-or-break for Arsenal, a victory tonight will do them the world of good.
KICK OFF! Arsenal get proceedings underway at the Emirates Stadium.
GOAL! ARSENAL 1-0 BORUSSIA DORTMUND (SANOGO)
What a start for Arsenal, and what a moment for Yaya Sanogo! There were less than two minutes were on the clock when the Frenchman found the net, tucking the ball beyond Weidenfeller after exchanging a neat one-two with Cazorla inside the box. Piszcek played him onside, and Sanogo showed the composure needed to finish from close range.
That will take away any early nerves from Arsenal's perspective, which is exactly what they needed. Dortmund have yet to settle, which is perhaps understandable when you concede a goal so early in the game.
Anyone who has watched Dortmund up close will now just how good they are at pressing from the front. That almost cost Arsenal a few moments ago, but the Gunners managed to win back possession after losing out.
CHANCE! Sanogo has just squandered a glorious chance to double his side's advantage. Having been played through on goal by Cazorla, the striker failed to initially get a shot away, although after being given a second bite of the cherry he could only direct his shot into the path of Ginter from 10 yards out. Will the Gunners live to rue that wasted opportunity?
YELLOW CARD! Arsenal are looking very good at the moment, with Alexis forcing Subotic into making a challenge in a wide area which leads to the game's first caution. Dortmund need to settle down, but the hosts are not letting them breath at the moment.
YELLOW CARD! Subotic has been joined in the book by Arteta, who makes a rare rash challenge. He can now not afford to make a mistake in that holding role for the remaining 75 minutes or so. Moments before that incident, Alexis was almost played through on goal but the pass to him inside the box was slightly over hit.
It takes more than conceding a goal to silence the Borussia Dortmund fans, mind. Around 4,000 over in London https://t.co/XzBLqmfwHR
— Archie Rhind-Tutt (@archiert1) November 26, 2014
The game still hasn't settled down, even as we enter the 18th minute. Arsenal have dominated so far, but it's not the first time I've said that this season while covering the Gunners, only for them two be pegged back. Dortmund will surely grow into this game sooner rather than later.
CLOSE! Right on cue, Die Borussen create their first opening of the night. Piszczek was afforded far too much space down the right, and his cross was near-perfect across the face of the opposition box, but Immobile was an inch or two away from poking it home on the slide.
SHOT! Now this is the Dortmund we're more used to seeing in the Champions League. That's two decent chances in the same number of minutes now, and again it came from the right-hand side. This time a yellow shirt was picked out inside the box, although having brought the ball down Mkhitaryan was unable to keep his shot down.
A small shout for a penalty from the visitors with Piszczek going down under the challenge of Gibbs. The England international looked to win the ball first, though, so that decision was spot on from the Hungarian referee.
Gibbs and Alexis have linked up well down the left in the opening quarter of this game, but the game is far more balanced now than it was 10 minutes ago. Sanogo's first goal in an Arsenal shit inside the opening two minutes still separates the two sides in what has been a decent clash thus far.
Incidentally, Arsenal have lost four-successive home games against German opposition; a run which could very well come to an end this evening. At this stage that one-goal advantage doesn't look like it will be enough to win this one, however.
Cazorla brilliantly gets away from Immobile down the right, and swings in an equally delightful cross towards Mertesacker at the back post. The ball was headed behind before it got to the German, however, with the corner coming to nothing. Wenger will be more than pleased with the way his side have started.
Alexis has looked lively in the opening half an hour, but he has been unable to add to his run of nine goals in nine games for club and country so far. The contest has quietened down ever so slightly over the past few minutes... on the field at least, because there is a brilliant atmosphere being generated in the away section.
Ramsey has burst forward a few times from his deep starting position, but so far he has been unable to get away an effort. It looks as though Arteta will remain in front of the defence, which is a little dodgy considering he has already been booked. He simply cannot be left exposed.
YELLOW CARD! Piszczek is shown the game's third yellow card for halting Gibbs's charge down the flank. That's what you call cynical.
SAVE! Dortmund's best chance yet falls to Mkhitaryan, and he really should have levelled things up. A searching ball over the top towards the byline was headed back into the danger area, and the Armenia international beat Alexis to the ball, only to see his shot from close range kept out by Martinez.
It would be wrong to say that Arsenal don't deserve their lead, because they have certainly been the better side in this first half, but Dortmund have grown into it and certainly look as though they have a goal or two in them. That should set up a decent spectacle after the restart.
Piszczek is constantly trying to get in behind Arsenal's backline from the right, and he has succeeded on a few occasions in the opening 43 minutes. It means that Alexis is essentially playing as a full-back at the moment, although the flip side of that means he has plenty of space to run into, of course.
HALF TIME: ARSENAL 1-0 BORUSSIA DORTMUND
Referee Viktor Kassai brings the first half to a close, and Arsenal can be pleased with their performance in the opening 45 minutes. Sanogo scored his first goal for the club after just 73 seconds to ensure that his side were quick off the mark, although Dortmund have certainly grown into the game as it has progressed.
UPDATE: ANDERLECHT 1-0 GALATASARAY (MBEMBA, 44)
That goal late in the first half changes little right now as far as Arsenal are concerned in truth, although things will become a little nervy should they be pegged back by Die Borusse in the second half.
GROUP D - AS THINGS STAND:
DORTMUND 12
ARSENAL 10
ANDERLECHT 5
GALATASARAY 1
All Anderlecht can do to take their hopes of progression into the final matchday is win against Galatasaray and hope that Arsenal lose against Dortmund - they're halfway there. Although of course the Gunners want more than qualification; top spot is within their sights.
A moment @Yayasanogoal22 will never forget. The young striker celebrates his 1st #UCL goal. pic.twitter.com/bjhsGA3n90
— Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 26, 2014
As promising as Arsenal looked in that first half, they tend to concede far more in the second half, while Dortmund always looks as though they have a couple of goals in them. It will be interesting to see if either manager changes things up at the interval - in terms of tactics or personnel - or whether they remain unchanged.
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! Dortmund resume proceedings at the Emirates Stadium in the knowledge that they need a point here to wrap up the group.
Borussia have started in a far more positive manner in this half, forcing Arsenal back into their final third. The urgency wasn't quite there in the first half, but Klopp has certainly had a word or two at the break.
SAVE! Mkhitaryan has been one of the visiting side's more livelier players tonight, and he has managed to get another shot in at goal. It was pretty straightforward for Martinez, however, who managed to get down to collect the ball.
SAVE! Alexis managed to work away a shot from pretty much nothing around 25 yards from goal, which was creeping into the bottom corner if not for the intervention of Weidenfeller who pushed it behind for a corner. The Chile international is so important to this Arsenal side, as highlighted by that period of play.
It's interesting to see Ramsey still pushing high up the field bottom Sanogo at times, while both Arsenal full-backs are also pushing up simultaneously. The longer this game remains at 1-0, the more chance there is of the hosts just sitting back a little more.
OFF THE BAR! Oxlade-Chamberlain has come within a few inches of scoring a sensational goal on what his is 100th appearance for the North London outfit. After being picked out on the edge of the box, the Englishman struck the ball on the half-volley with Weidenfeller beat. There wasn't quite enough dip for it to drop under the bar, though, meaning that Arsenal still have just that one-goal lead.
GOAL! ARSENAL 2-0 BORUSSIA DORTMUND (ALEXIS)
What. A. Strike. Alexis Sanchez really is in the form of his life right now, highlighted just why Arsene Wenger paid all that money for him in the summer. Cazorla picked out the Chile international in his starting position on the right, and after being shown inside by Piszczek he unleashed an unstoppable curling drive beyond the reach of Weidenfeller from range.
That really was a special goal from a special player, who now has 10 in 10 for club and country. Piszczek did the right thing by showing him inside from that range, rather than being exposed down the line, but the former Barcelona man pulled out a shot from the very top drawer. At 2-0 up Arsenal have all-but secured their place in the knockout stage, but they must now see out this game in order to keep alive their hopes of finishing top.
DOUBLE SUBSTITION: Kagawa and Ramos are on in place of the rather ineffective Immobile and Aubameyang with a little under 30 minutes to go in North London.
Obviously not. RT @MiguelDelaney: This isn't the Dortmund of the first game. #afcbvb 2-0
— Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) November 26, 2014
Despite their side underperforming, Dortmund's supporters haven't stopped chanting all night. On the field Arsenal just have to be more reserved now; they don't need to chase the game.
ARSENAL SUB! I was going to ask the question of whether Wenger may be tempted to withdraw the already cautioned Mikel Arteta around about now, but the decision has been forced on the Arsenal manager as it is. The Spaniard has pulled up with an injury, limping off the field with Flamini on in his place.
Dortmund are seeing plenty of the ball now, but they can't create any chances of note. Credit to the home side for staying firm because their defence, collectively and as individuals, has come underfire in recent weeks. A third goal really would kill the German opposition off, but 2-0 will do Gunners supporters nicely.
A reminder that Arsenal travel to face Galatasaray in a fortnight, while Dortmund host Anderlecht. BVB are runaway favourites to win the group, but at least the Gunners are in with a chance of toppling them.
GROUP D - AS THINGS STAND:
DORTMUND 12
ARSENAL 10
ANDERLECHT 5
GALATASARAY 1
The game is enduring its quietest spell at the moment, with Dortmund pretty much accepting their fate. The two sides could finish on the same amount of points in Group D, so a third here for the Gunners may make a huge difference come the totting up process.
SHOT! Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is clearly high on confidence right now, unleashes a powerful shot from a fairly tight angle on the right, which flies narrowly over the bar. Good effort, but it didn't quite match his earlier effort which came back off the bar.
Dortmund have mounted their first real attack since falling 2-0 behind, with Grosskreutz playing a superb ball across the face of goal, which wasn't capitalised on. This game isn't quite over just yet.
DORTMUND SUB! Well that turned out to be Grosskreutz's last piece of meaningful action, as Klopp opts to introduce Jojic for the final 10 minutes.
ARSENAL SUB! Rather worryingly, Wenger has been forced into making another substitution, with opening goalscorer Sanogo this time the man to pull up. Podolski is brought on in his place, receiving a warm reception from the home supporters.
Dortmund have had far more of the ball in the last 15 minutes, although they've barely tested Arsenal's backline who are have remained strong when called upon. That will please Wenger more than anything this evening. Six minutes to go on a night which has contained far less drama than a few weeks back.
Marching on. @Alexis_Sanchez celebrates his goal which looks set to push @Arsenal through to the next round. #UCL pic.twitter.com/FnOCnvGvgG
— Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) November 26, 2014
Even now, with 88 minutes played and the game as good as over, Alexis cootninued to driver forward and create something out of nothing for his side. On this occasions his hard work led to a free kick being awarded to his side on the edge of the opposition box, which Cazorla fires wide.
ARSENAL SUB! Oxlade-Chamberlain's night has come to an end on this special occasion for him; Joel Campbell the man to replace him.
It's hard to find any negatives about Arsenal's performance this evening, although one thing that will concern Wengers is the fact that Arteta and Sanogo both limped off the field. Cazorla is also holding his leg, but he is going to see out the remainder of this one.
SAVE! Martinez is another who has enjoyed a fine 90 minutes. He has just kept out Ramos's strike from point-blank range to ensure that his side's clean sheet remains intact heading into the final minute of stoppage time.
FULL TIME: ARSENAL 2-0 BORUSSIA DORTMUND
So there we have it then - Arsenal are into the knockout stages of the Champions League for the 15th season running. Dortmund failed to turn up this evening, but they are still in the driving seat to finish top of Group D with one game left to go.
That's all from me, but be sure to stick around on Sports Mole as we bring you a full match report, player ratings and analysis from this evening's clash.
