Written by Mean Lean on Thursday, 24 November 2011 01:39

Qualified top of the group with a game to spare, Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United all still sweating over getting out of their groups. Eight wins and one draw from our last nine games in all competitions and it is safe to say that Arsenal FC are in good shape right about now.

We faced a team full of confidence, a team that have just beaten league rivals Bayern Munich in an impressive fashion but this is not just a team of talented Arsenal players thrown together, this is now a team with dare I say it, mental strength. A team with organisation and a team who fight for each other.

It was the typical seasoned Champions league professional performance from Arsenal and that is something we haven't been able to say for a while.

Dortmund were quicker out of the traps and we struggled to get into their half but we kept tight defensively and then slowly took over in the second half.

Andre Santos was fantastic from start to finish, he is looking stronger and sharper. I suspect that will continue as the games keep coming. He is a joy to watch, a player who could probably play in most midfield positions. His little jinks inside his man from a standing start are becoming his trade mark and he adds so much to our offensive game.

It is unfair to compare him to Gael Clichy even if when you look at the stats on paper, it makes you chuckle. Andre Santos has a specific role in the team, it is his job to join the midfield and slip passes into van Persie's stride. It is also the midfields job to cover him when he makes those moves forward. It is misguided to believe that Santos just bombs forward without a consideration for his defensive duties. Like the rest of the team we are starting to see an understanding with Santos and his team mates.

Alex Song has already made that left wing drive this season and that also resulted in an assist. Aaron Ramsey stabbed home Song's left footed cross at White Hart Lane but this was more Gascoigne than makeshift left winger. He has to be the most talented defensive midfielder in the country.

Alex Song is making it a habit to improve considerably in the second half. He was everywhere for Arsenal and won tackle after tackle. He did the same in Udinese and Marseille. The scary thing is that Alex Song has plenty of scope for improvement as is the way with most of Wenger's squad. van Persie is obviously getting a taste for being in the six yard box. Two more goal scorers goals last night.

We scored a George Graham corner kick, once that happens then you know your luck is changing. The Steve Bould near post flick on followed up by Alan Smith at the far post to nod in past a helpless keeper. Having the aggression of Vermaelen to win the ball was the key. Since he has come back from injury we already look more threatening from corners and he proved that by almost scoring his second against West Brom a few weeks back.

I was waiting for the Benayoun for Gervinho substitution. It wasn't Gervinho's day but as always he puts in a great shift for the team and also poses a constant threat. Benayoun was great when he came on. Kept the ball intelligently, linked up very well with van Persie who had taken up a deeper, wider role for the team. Yossi did himself no hard with his cameo. Hats off to him.

I don't think Dortmund would have scored their goal if the scores were level but it is only a minor irritation now. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ju Park, Francis Coquelin and Yossi Benayoun can get ready for a trip to Greece. A nice time to give some squad players some game time at the top level.

I imagine that we will see some rotation for the weekend.

* I hope for a speedy recover to Sven Bender who broke his cheek bone during the game.

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Comments (25)

• 24-Nov-2011 02:23 | | Gino92  - Great professional win!
  

  Good write-up, ML. Alex Song was a total beast. He was everywhere all over the pitch. He was my MOTM! And Robin, what else can be said about him, I sure hope we can re-sign these 2 to new long term contracts. Give them 5+ years each. What a foundation we have for the next 2-3 years!!!
  I might be in the minority but I am actually beginning to enjoy watching Andre Santos play. He may not have a footballing body or a good stamina, or any one-two defending skills but boy, is he just amazing with the ball at his feet! He gets himself into tight spots and somehow manages to get out unscathed with quick and nimble footwork. He reminds me of Alex Hleb so much, whom I used to call a "magician". As long ad the Verminator is covering him up and Koscielny is watching anyone coming up from behind, I say, let Santos do what he does best. On top of everything, he is also a great passer of the ball. I cannot wait to have him play in front of Gibbs as part of the front 3 with about 20 minutes to go. That would be amazing. It is so refreshing to have some Brazilian flair in the team.
  Anyway, great win and now let's beat Fulham this weekend to end the month on a high.
  Go Gunners!!!

• 24-Nov-2011 03:23 | | The Verminator  - Santos is Brazilian
  

  As we all know, a good Brazilian player can be a total waste of space in the EPL (Denilson?) or they can perform wonderfully as Edu and Silva showed us (maybe I should include Eduardo as well?). In Santos' case, it would appear that he is growing into the role AW assigned him and seems to be enjoying the semi-defensive, midfield spoiler tactics which allow him to link up between RVP,Gervinho and Walcott and his back 4 associates. He wouldn't have played for the Brazilian National team if he didn't have the nous and on-the-ball skills we all expect of a Brazilian. He does remind me a little of Hleb at his best but he seems to be a more realistic sort, perhaps another diamond in the rough from LeProf?

• 24-Nov-2011 05:18 | | Roland C Rozario  - A Game To Savour & Enjoy ..... BUT
  

  It was truly a game to savour and I enjoyed at 3.40am Singapore Time.
  BUT..... the last minute goal that gave Dortmund to take was unnecessary at all.
  Lack of Concentration!

• 24-Nov-2011 06:55 | | richie
  

  Only just woke up had rather a few too many in celibration after the game. It was a great atmosphere around Highbury after the match, the pub talk was all about how our manager has managed to turn things around and put together a great team that works for each other. I said before the game that I wasn't sure how BD would approach the match, it being virtually impossible for them to qualify.
  
  I needn't have worried from the start it was obvious they came to win. Song was a marvel what an engine the boy has on him. I know this is naughty but his steel made sure we never got to see the best of Goetze thankfully, as with you ML I can now wish him a speedy recovery. We've only got one Song but what a sweet melody, easily MotM.
  
  Poor Gervinho for the second game in a row he's done all the hard work in rounding the keeper only to come up short, never mind he contributes plenty to the team. Am I remembering right was there criticism of our Brazilian lateral on this blog? Be careful, our Andre will have you eating your words. The banner above the 2nd tear reads "Who needs batman when you've got Robin" Another brace for our boy wonder.
  
  Equally it was a great night to see a couple of returnies. 1st our number one French fan from America Thierry H in the stands. Moreover it was good to see Diaby's cameo recieving a raucous response from the faithful. Fingers crossed for Abou who has been one of the unluckiest ever. Another great North London Euro night.

• 24-Nov-2011 07:25 | | Mohamed Zubairu
  

  It is soooooooooo long that I have read the comments of Adam Kemp and Ian Wright. Somebody tell them that I am yearning to read their comments at this point in time.

• 24-Nov-2011 09:35 | | man.t
  

  *Speedy recovery*

• 24-Nov-2011 09:56 | | indian gooner forever...  - great victory and where is that spurs fan spectrum
  

  It was a great European night and one has to admit that this is the most sincere and hardworking arsenal team in the recent 4 or 5 seasons.....
  
  Perhaps that bad form earlier on in the season has worked as a tonic against complacency and also the unnecessary cavalier attitude that one saw from the immature gunners in recent seasons. We saw a hint of that returning in the dying minutes of the game when Song and Djourou took the unwanted risk of trying to keep possession in a dangerous area and ultimately a clean sheet was ruined. But that nitpicking apart it was a very dogged & gritty performance when required and polished enough in the right moment. Certainly the experience in the squad is showing its merit and there were no childish errors in the match apart from that goal conceded.
  
  Everybody is correct in praising Van Persie but boy what a game Alex Song had last night. He is improving with every game and hats off to Wenger for persisting with him when almost the entire world press and media including the ones in Somalia had written the guy off just a couple of years ago. What a transformation it has been and as rightly pointed out by Mean Lean - Song is perhaps the best defensive midfielder in the league rather the most talented defensive midfielder in the Premier League.
  
  Hopefully that goal conceded in the dying minutes will serve as a good reminder to the team that they have to continue the good hard work and not let up for even a single minute.
  Yet another stern test passed with flying colors, team looking more and more solid with each game and boy I am loving this.........Keep the run going gunners.......

• 24-Nov-2011 10:00 | | kikuli Edward  - go gooner
  

  fantastic play,fantastic win,brilant Arsenal,
  still believe in Wenger goooo goooner.

• 24-Nov-2011 10:38 | | dkgooner  - Sing the Song everyone
  

  Great to see Alex as MoM on the AFC site - 62% when I voted. Huge performance - like having an extra player out there. And not only qualfying but, thanks to Marseille screwing up, we've also won the group. Does that mean AW can put the second string out for the final game or would that incur a fine? Anyone know the rules on that? I think Aaron is looking a bit jaded. He put in a good shift, he always does, but the creative spark was lacking. He was fabulous against Chelsea but hasn't quite hit those heights since. So having Diaby back will maybe give AW the chance to rest him. He was saying things about having overworked Jack last season, but that was because of all the injuries he had no choice. I think he'd probably like to rest him. Then when Jack's back he can rotate much more so Arteta gets a break too. Maybe I should stop using the word "break" - tempting fate.

• 24-Nov-2011 10:51 | | feeno
  

  Loved when Alan Smith was slating Santos and Santos ran up the park while Smith was in mid seethe and fashioned the first opening with a jink past a couple of players and an excelllent pass to Van Persie. Get it up ye Smith.
  
  Also hoddle is complete tool, but we know this allready

• 24-Nov-2011 11:07 | | richie
  

  Just a further point to the above Borrussia Dortmund ain't just any Euro team, they are the German Champions they're second in the bundesliga behind Bayern Munich who they beat in the game they played before yesterday. They are a good German team who have found the CL difficult. Currently the Europa league beckons, but they would trouble many premier league sides. The fact that they didn't trouble us too much is testament to our new found grit, determination and team spirit.

• 24-Nov-2011 11:16 | | richie  - feeno
  

  Was @ the Match so didn't hear Smudgers comments but I wrote before reading your post that Andre is liable to have his critics eating their words, I meant his critics on this blog, little did I know that one of our own would end up wanting to eat his own words, just after they'd left his mouth. Poor Old Smudger Classic!

• 24-Nov-2011 11:36 | | pika
  

  whenver i hear our veterans talk, they give the impression of being on dein;s agenda.......
  
  almost all the ex players who were close to dein ...they all have something negative to say about our players, wenger;s choices, our defence, our attack, everything.....
  
  there is a situation common in other leagues where the ex players are usually employed by the club they represented in some role within the club. a way for past legends to make a living once their playing days are over, either as scouts or coaches or general representatives/agents..... is wenger cutting their allowance out ..is that why they are all against him ? maybe ...maybe dixon has been looking for a position within the arsenal set up and wenger doesnt want anyone and so theyre all doubting his decissions, questioning him and so on......we know ian wright sharps his knives out for wenger just because we didnt accept his mediocre son in our team....oh the pain ian...... such pain....
  
  f*ck all them tw@ts...arsene knows...and this is his club..he decides who plays and who doesnt ...and nobody ..NOBODY ..can ever doubt him. bunch of uneducated bas tards thinking they can tell a pro like wenger how to run his football club....f*ck them all arsene.. we are with you!

• 24-Nov-2011 11:40 | | pika
  

  yep ..only one alex song ...we must make sure he changes his agent...dont want deins son or dein anywhere near our players ...

• 24-Nov-2011 11:49 | | Feeno
  

  These so called experts have their nose in Sky's trough, the sky agenda is to slate Arsenal and by having ex players do it it lends more creedence to the drivel they are spouting in the eyes of the viewer. Thats my theory anyway.
  
  If you saw O'Leary recently he's been out the commentating/punditry game for a little bit so he was giving it yee-hah with the negative cliched drivel, he was obviously looking to be a good little drone and get himself a spot for his snout.

• 24-Nov-2011 12:28 | | richie
  

  Pika, Just so you know Arsenal as a club does indeed employ our old player's "The Legends" Dixon wouldn't really qualify as he didn't stop playing that long ago. It wouldn't be up to Wenger if the club gave a job to one of the old guard. AW deals with the football side, so employing Boldie, and Liam Brady would be Arsene's choice. The club itself gives jobs to Charlie George John Radford etc etc.

• 24-Nov-2011 12:46 | | pika
  

  yes i know they do. many clubs do it too. what i meant is that because wenger has given roles to sb and others and hasnt given to dixon or smith or wright , thats why the latter three are in front of cameras doubting questioning and being negative....wenger is cutting them out the club ..thats why they attack him, thats teh impression they give me at least.

• 24-Nov-2011 12:49 | | pika
  

  i agree with your sky comments 100%..ive stopped wathing sky two years now....the thing though is why does sky have this agenda on arsenal ? is it a collective case of xenophobia by english media or dein pulling the strings behind the scenes....

• 24-Nov-2011 13:31 | | akan
  

  Guys i thought metersacker was outstanding, his partnership with vermaelean is my favourite but i also appreciate the fact that koscielny is possible on the brink of world class so its really tough. Metersackes was just close to perfect

• 24-Nov-2011 14:02 | | richie
  

  Naw its a soul selling job the club would only pay them a wage. Sky pays them mega bucks remember how much Sky was paying the commentators Andy Grey & Richard Keys before they got the chop? They were on 6 figure salaries. They're incouraged to say things that are controvercial, especially if they'll say things against their own. Sky was started by the Murdocks remember its in Sky's DNA to court controversy. Its part tabloid.

• 24-Nov-2011 14:11 | | MeanLean
  

  Anyone notice Ramsey's slight swagger last night. He looks more and more confident now. At the start of the season he looked as if he was trying to play well but now he is playing like he knows he can and will.

• 24-Nov-2011 14:55 | | Feeno
  

  was it ramsay that had a ridiculous little jink to himself just outside the 18 yard box, fine piece of skill to shiled the ball turn and play it into space?? I thought it was him bit wasnt sure!

• 24-Nov-2011 17:31 | | king gooner
  

  sky had/have part shares in MANURE b4 sold out to glazers?have always had an anti arsenal agenda-pro manure...let em choke on it!

• 24-Nov-2011 19:34 | | pika
  

  he is very strong mentally to come back from that injury and immediately thrown in the deep again ..minus a few occasions in matches were he abuses posession instead of a quick one touch pass, i think he is terrific. great attitude and always willing ..just some times he tries too much to be cesc...holding ball, abuse of dribbling..but he is only what 21? 22? ...lol...hats off wenger...

• 24-Nov-2011 20:12 | | eduardo
  

  santos was outstanding, his best game for us yet, and for me was our man of the match

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