They have
been allowed to make the most of an impressive run of qualifications and
the odd foray into the last eight, but this can no longer hide the
reality. The scoreline did not flatter Borussia Dortmund. Their margin
of victory could have been doubled, even trebled, without complaint.
Their
opening goal, in the final minute of the first-half, was their 15th
attempt – and if anything their chances after half-time were better, if
less frequent. They totalled 22 by the time referee Olegario Benquerenca
of Portugal called a halt to a very one-sided contest.
Quicker,
sharper, more intelligent, with greater determination at the back,
quite simply Dortmund should not be this far ahead. Jurgen Klopp is a
fine coach, but he presides over a club that is constantly battling to
keep its finest players, often without success. The best are picked off,
by Bayern Munich or the elite of England’s Premier League – Arsenal
would fancy their chances of getting a player out of Dortmund every
time, as they once did with Tomas Rosicky.
Yet
the Germans were on a different plane. Only mistakes in front of goal
stopped this being a painfully sobering rout. As it was, even the
appearance of a 19-year-old rookie, Hector Bellerin, at right back
cannot excuse Arsenal’s inferiority. Nothing that happened was
Bellerin’s fault; and Dortmund were missing Marco Reus and Mats Hummels.
Yes,
Arsenal had the odd chance, too – but even this meagre resistance
raised more questions than answers, all falling to new signing Danny
Welbeck, who did little to refute Louis van Gaal’s criticisms of him.
The Dutchman, not reluctant to back his judgement even in the worst of
times, may be saying that he told us so.
Arsenal
were desperate for a striker to supplement the injured Olivier Giroud,
but their problems run deeper than that. Mikel Arteta was deployed to
guard the back four, but that is not his natural role and it showed.
Dortmund
were too quickly into the heart of Arsenal’s defence; any team of
attacking quality will enjoy playing against them now. Arsene Wenger was
once invincible with men like Patrick Vieira in midfield. It seems
incredible that he no longer finds such physically imposing figures
relevant to how Arsenal play.
The
goals summed up Arsenal’s malaise. The first was horridly soft and come
from a bungled visitors' throw-in. Possession was lost, the ball was
cleared and Ciro Immobile picked it up inside his own half.
Confounding
those who love to mock his rather unfortunate surname, he began a run
that took him through a very half-hearted Arsenal midfield and into the
path of Laurent Koscielny. The centre half – outstanding here last
season – put in a lame challenge which Immobile shrugged off easily,
before striking the ball across Wojciech Szczesny in goal. It was no
more than Dortmund deserved. They had been by far the best team until
that point.
The
second was little better from Arsenal’s perspective. Pierre-Emerick
Aubameyang, French born but playing for his father’s country, Gabon, had
been wasteful in the first half but he made amends three minutes after
the restart.
A
ball from substitute Matthias Ginter caused unnecessary confusion in
the Arsenal ranks, allowing Aubameyang to nip in ahead of Per
Mertesacker, round Szczesny and finish smartly as Koscielny collided
with a post in a frantic attempt to block on the line.
And,
yes, it could have been worse. So much worse. Immobile nearly grabbed
his second, forcing an outstanding one-handed save from Szczesny,
Aubameyang had another shot hit the bar, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan lashed
one over when a cooler head would surely have netted Dortmund’s third.
The
first-half had been equally frustrating for Dortmund, not least after 27
minutes when Aubameyang failed to take advantage of a lovely move that
saw his team-mates switch the play from right to left. Erik Durm,
Sebastian Kehl and Kevin Grosskreutz were all involved before the ball
found its way back into the centre where Aubameyang was charging towards
the target.
He
shot first time, but straight at Szczesny from close range. Soon after,
again picking up on a pass from Kehl, Aubameyang forced another good
save from the Arsenal goalkeeper. Sokratis Papastathopoulos and
Mkhitaryan also wasted decent chances. Arsenal barely got a look in.
When
they did, Welbeck disappointed. After 31 minutes a cross from Alexis
Sanchez eluded Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller, only for the ball
to get trapped beneath Welbeck’s feet at the far post. His second miss
was more glaring.
Put
through by Ramsey, with only Weidenfeller to beat, his finish was
snatched and wide. In the second-half, he had a last chance to apply
pressure but demonstrated only the inconsistency that supports Van
Gaal’s decision to sell. Everything about his build-up play – his run,
his touch – was lovely, but the finish was that of a novice, panicked,
and a long way over. Dortmund were equally loose but their sheer volume
of goalmouth opportunities ultimately won the game. With chances
limited, Welbeck’s misses stood out.
There
is a way to go yet, obviously, but Arsenal may already be eyeing second
place in Group D. Galatasaray are the next opponents, at the Emirates
Stadium, and a win is vital, if only to regain their confidence in
European competition. This was a humbling night
