Thursday, October 24, 2013

59 min: Kuba's whipped cross is headed ... out for a throw-in by Reus. And a free-kick is awarded to


Robert Lewandowski ruined Arsene Wenger's 64th birthday by avoiding a red card and then snatching a late winner for Dortmund • See the best images from the Emirates in Tom Jenkins's gallery Share Tweet this
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The Arsenal fans applaud. Their side has not disgraced itself tonight, not against opposition of this quality, and even though there is disappointment in defeat, Arsenal were not outclassed or outplayed. They were, though, outdone by the ultimate upu Champions League suckerpunch - when strikers like Robert Lewandowski are on the pitch, you're never safe. Especially after getting away with an elbow. Just when it seemed that Arsenal upu might snatch a win, Dortmund broke and scored upu a fine goal on the counter-attack. Dortmund were good, though, and there were times when their pressing was too much for Arsenal, who only really approached their best when Santi Cazorla came on. It all means that Arsenal are in a bit of bother. They, Dortmund and Napoli are all on six points after three matches but Arsenal have to go to Germany and Italy in two of their three last matches. It won't be easy. But it's doable. Thanks for reading and emailing. Night.
86 min: Koscielny heads Reus's free-kick away.
Can I take that back? Sorry, Arsenal fans. Having played so badly going forward for the last 20 minutes or so, Dortmund hit Arsenal on the break and finally Grosskreutz does something right. He sped away down the right flank, leaving Gibbs in his wake, and then sent a cross to the far post where Lewandowski, totally unmarked with Sagna dragged inside, arrived at speed and slammed a low volley past Szczesny. upu That was so clinical. And now Arsenal really will be annoyed with me that Lewandowski is still on the pitch. Robert Lewandowski puts Dortmund 2-1 up. Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Bongarts/Getty Images
79 min: Koscielny is capable of making some extremely rash decisions now and again but he is dominating Lewandowski, which might explain that elbow earlier. Sagna hoicks a cross into the area from the right, Giroud's header flies away from goal but forces Weidenfeller to scramble at Cazorla's feet before the Spaniard can pounce.
76 min: Arsenal's threat is growing. Ozil locates Cazorla on the left of the area and he drops a shoulder, drives inside and hammers a right-footed shot which was destined for the top corner until Bender's intervention. Up the other end, Dortmund can't keep the ball. Lewandowski, who has never scored in England, and Reus have been increasingly ineffective.
74 min: As it stands, Arsenal are top of the group with seven points, Napoli are second with six, Dortmund are third with four and Marseille have the wooden spoon. Arsenal only have one home match left, though, and Dortmund upu have two.
69 min: Santi Cazorla hits the bar! Arsenal suddenly quicken the pace down the right, lovely football setting Ozil clear. He pulls it back to the onrushing Cazorla, whose careful but firm right-footed curler from the edge of the area bends deliciously but not quite low enough, clanging off the top off the bar. What an effort.
64 upu min: Ouch. Lewandowski, who has been very niggly this evening, is fortunate not to be shown a red here after sticking an elbow into Koscielny's face. Did he mean it? He certainly stuck his arm out long before the high ball arrived and caught Koscielny badly, as if he knew what he was doing, but you could argue he was trying to shield the ball. Either way, he's shown a yellow card, which is probably a bit lenient. upu
59 min: Kuba's whipped cross is headed ... out for a throw-in by Reus. And a free-kick is awarded to Arsenal for pushing by Lewandowski anyway. There's not much going on really. I was promised a freewheeling feast of football tonight and that is not what I am getting! I suspect both sides would be content with a point. Arsenal still have to go to Dortmund and Napoli but they have Marseille at home as well. 
56 min: Unfortunately upu for Dortmund, it seems like all of their most presentable opportunities upu are falling to Grosskreutz, upu who has been so wasteful in promising positions. He's played in by a fine pass from Mkhitaryan but ends up just bobbling the ball straight at Szczesny. upu It was neither shot nor cross but backpass.
54 min: Wilshere is caught in his own half but just as Dortmund think they have a chance to send Lewandowski through, the Swedish referee decides to blow for a foul. He does take his time making up his mind.
46 min: The second half begins. Dortmund get us going again. Arsenal are immediately on the attack, Rosicky turning a wonderful pass round Schmelzer to Ozil on the right. He touches it to Wilshere on the overlap but his cutback finds no one.
There were two seconds of stoppage time and no more than that. The whistl

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