Arsenal Dig In and Get It Done -Arsenal 1-0 Borussia Dortmund



Three weeks ago, I received a promotion at work.  The promotion was accompanied with a substantial raise...and more work.  Lots more work.  My job is now officially messing with my blogging. 

Go figure.

But I still managed to watch us earn a hard point away in Germany on Wednesday (the key is to know when to minimize the screen) and honestly, I  never felt prouder or more confident of our form.  This win has banished the depiction of our defense as having a "soft underbelly".  No more.  Having scored only one goal and that in the 62nd minute, we had to defend and play smart tactically for the remaining 28 minutes.  The Arsenal squads over the past few seasons would not have had the professionalism and experience to see out a game like that.  Arteta, for example, after receiving a yellow early on in the first half, had to resist the temptation to take down Lewandowski with a foul, instead opting to give him more space and relying on Mertesacker to mop up the Polish leftovers. 

It only took a couple of weeks to learn our lesson.  Having lost to Dortmund at home because we didn't buckle down after our goal, we did not make that mistake at the Westfalenstadion.  After Ramsey converted a brave header (check out the high boot next to his head), we immediately went from 100% focus to %150 overdrive - if there is such a thing.  My favorite defensive moves of the second half were this Tommy sliding tackle (sure to be added to his already extensive montage videos), and this Szczesny save.

Wenger added the defensive nous of Vermie and Nacho Man, and that was all the nail-biting she wrote. 

What next?  Ummm...oh yea - Manchester United at Old Trafford this Sunday.  I haven't looked forward to a game against the Red Devils in a long time.  I can't wait.  Flamini may be back in the squad, and his combining with the ever-excellent Arteta is mouth watering indeed.  I think if we handle the Dutch Skunk and Rooney the way we took care of Sturridge and Suarez, we are in for another three points.  Manure's midfield is no match for ours.  The strategy of cutting off supply to the two strikers will probably be implemented yet again.  Our back four is more solid than ever, and Ozil attracting three defenders everytime he touches the ball, will open up our other players to receive his elegant passes.  The corridors will open, and our attacking players will answer.  I say it now.  Unless we are crazy fatigued from our exhaustive display at Dortmund,  we are winning this one.  I am that confident.

The game is late on Sunday after the other top table contenders have played.  Winning against Moyes' not quite-ready-for-prime-time-players would be the most delicious icing on the scrumptious cake ever.

So here's to another three points, to crushing the little boy inside the skunk, and to pulling even farther away from the pack.

That's it for now.  Have a good one Gooners.  And - Come. On. You. Gunners.