Arsenal vs Dortmund: Preview, Team News, Likely Line-Ups, Key Man & Predicted Score

Arsenal welcome Borussia Dortmund to the Emirates tonight looking to take a huge step towards qualification to the knockout stages.

The Gunner head into the game sitting top of Group F after victories over Marseille and Napoli, and another win tonight will see them move to nine points and on the cusp of securing a place in the next phase.

Manager Arsene Wenger celebrates his 64th birthday today so will be hoping for a welcome birthday present and he should be confident with his team playing some sensational football of late.

His side dispatched of Norwich 4-1 on Saturday with Jack Wilshere finishing off a flowing move involving Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud, while Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey also scored impressive goals to move us two points clear at the top of the Premier League table.

However, Dortmund are going to prove to be the toughest test of the season so far with last years losing finalists no doubt one of the finest teams in Europe at present.

Jurgen Klopp will continue to sit in the stands for the game after being slapped with a two-game suspension after his sending off during Dortmund’s 2-1 defeat to Napoli on match-day one.

His side beat Marseille 3-0 a couple of weeks ago so could move level on points with us if they win tonight, which would blow the group wide open.

Team News

Midfielder Mathieu Flamini has been ruled out of the game after suffering concussion at the weekend. The Frenchman was forced off after a clash of heads and the clubs doctor has advised the ‘five-day rule’ is enforced for this type of injury.

It means Aaron Ramsey will come back in to the starting line-up alongside Mikel Arteta in midfield after coming off the bench against Norwich, but Wenger isn’t expected to make too many changes with his side in excellent form.

Theo Walcott is still two weeks away from recovering from an abdominal injury so he joins Yaya Sanogo, Lukas Podolski, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Abou Diaby on the sidelines.

Dortmund welcome back Goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller after he served a one-match ban against Marseille. Klopp has also been boosted by the return of defender Mats Hummels, who also served a domestic ban at the weekend, while midfielders Sven Bender, Marco Reus and Nuri Sahin all featured against Hannover on Saturday after previously being doubts for the game.

Midfielder Ilkay Gundogan is definitely out though, and he joins Lukasz Piszczek and Sebastian Kehl on the sidelines.

Likely Line-Ups

Key Man

Mesut Ozil: The German put in a masterful display against Napoli last time out in Europe and will be up against some familiar faces having spent several years in the Bundesliga. I can see him being the key to this match.

Predicted Score

Arsenal 2-1 Borussia Dortmund: This is expected to be an entertaining affair with both sides preferring to play attractive football, but I think home advantage will see the Gunners edge it.

What would be your team and what’s your predicted score? Share your views below.