Dortmund: A Point the Minimum Need

Well hello again.

It's been some time since I last wrote on here so naturally there are a few things to brush up on. I've missed a couple of games and a fair amount of news. And of course, we have a big game tonight which needs previewing.

But first the other games. Last time I wrote I gave a brief preview of Chelsea. It was a fixture which we afforded very little importance and somewhat predictably we came out on the wrong side of a defeat. Injuries to younger players (Eisfeld, Gnabry, Zelalem) forced us into an sticky situation. The complete lack of men dictated that we field a side not good enough to win, but still featuring enough first team players to make tiredness an issue for the next game. Realistically, with everyone fit, I think we would have thrown the game and thrust our inexperienced lambs to the slaughter against Juan Mata, Samuel Eto'o and the rest of Chelsea's 'second string'. However, we weren't able to do so and in the end we meekly surrendered, 2-0 the final score. I never enjoy losing a game but this really did have the feel of a distraction rather than a knock-out fixture.

So we moved on to Liverpool. We still lacked Mathieu Flamini but even so, I'm unwilling to call the team we fielded below full strength, such is the level of quality and competition in the side these days. We have had a decent record against Liverpool over the last few seasons but their good form coupled with a 2-0 home loss I witnessed a couple of seasons ago left me a little worried. The frustratingly well nicknamed SAS certainly have the ability to unlock any side.

As it turned out, SAS indirectly led to Liverpool's downfall. As well as failing to score a goal between them, their sheer quality forced Brendan 'Black Suit, Black Shirt and Black Tie' Rogers into compromising the defensive solidity of his side in order to accommodate the both of them. The back three/five formation had it's shortcomings flawlessly exploited by Olivier Giroud who put in a proper centre forward's shift.

He may not have scored a goal himself, but his intelligent movement drew all three centre backs at times, creating pools of space for our midfield players to exploit. I stressed before how reliant we are on a contribution to our goal tally from the midfield and Giroud makes that possible. He works hard as well to try and incorporate runners into attacks and the space Santi Cazorla was afforded for his goal is a credit to the work of the Frenchman. It didn't make Martin Skrtl's pivot on the spot defending any less funny though.

Anyhow, once we scored our first goal, we performed well to hold the lead. The way Aaaron Ramsey added a second was exquisite, even if Kolo Toure was ball watching a little. There were a few hairy moments though, Suarez's curling poke onto the post one of them, but overall it was a fantastic display. I still didn't like Szczesny's Manuel Almunia moment. He seemed to be copying the former Gunner directly as Almunia had his own similar, albeit worse, incident earlier in the day.

One player who had an exceptional game is Mikel Arteta. Many saw him as our MOTM and that would be a fair judgement. He played supremely, offering genuine protection to the back four (yes four Brendan).

This leads nicely on to a preview of our Dortmund game as I feel Mikel will once again be the key man. Our defeat last time out in this Competition has put us in the awkward position of really needing to avoid defeat in Germany and if anyone can help us achieve that, it will be Arteta. In the absence of Mathieu Flamini, he really will have to channel his inner darkness and act as an oh so visible wall. Dortmund could be seen as the world's best counter attacking side at the moment and while they won't have to rely on that side of their game so heavily at home, they will clearly carry a threat on the break.

The pressing style that Klopp advocates means that we could lose the ball at any time in places where our possession wouldn't necessarily come under threat against other teams.This means a few things. Firstly, we'll have to keep our shape at all times. Secondly, everyone, even Ballon D'Or nominees, will have to track back and lend a hand. But thirdly, and importantly, Arteta has to do his job.

Simply because we need some sort of result, I think we'll come out on the front foot. Yes Dortmund are a good side but we've shown in our last few fixtures that we have enough to score against them, even when facing the yellow wall. It should be a full strength team after my man Kieran Gibbs was passed fit. I think Thomas Rosicky may also start again. Reflecting on his performance at the weekend, my Dad and I agreed what a really good player he is for a number of reasons. I reckon he'll play so we can treat our hosts to a bit of their own high pressure medicine. Also, as we all know, he sets the tempo of most games which can be invaluable away from home. He did also used to play for Dortmund with current star man Marco Reus citing him as a boyhood hero. Mentally, having Rosicky in the side will probably have some effect. I can't work it it out now but it will.

Anyway. I can't say much else but I'll point out again that a draw at least is a requirement. If we face the same situation that we did late on last time, we'll definitely sit back and bring on three more defenders. Should we lose, we'll know that a victory in Naples is an absolute must and that's an uncomfortable prospect.

So here's to a victory then. Nothing personal though Jurgen. For now.