Out-gunned

I watched a good match yesterday AM in the Champions League group stage between Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund. It was a classy, high-class, Champions League-type of match, if you will. Not the most exciting, not the greatest quality displayed, but a good, tense and emotive kind of match that brings out the senses in you (hope I'm making sense here).

 

Even though Arsenal lost 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium and ended their unbeaten run of 12 games in all competitions, they should really not be too depressed nor despondent. They gave a very good account of themselves against the reigning European runners-up, which is befitting of their current imperious form, both domestically and continentally. In fact, the reason that they lost was that they just lacked that bit of maturity in decisive moments; Aaron Ramsey (who by the way is in top form at the moment) losing the ball needlessly at the back for the first goal, and for the second, they were caught out by a sweeping and clinical Dortmund counter-attack just 8 minutes from time.

 

And there-in lies just that difference between the potential champions of Europe, and one of the best teams in the world, a team soaring in the Bundesliga right now. After a pretty even first half, I thought the English league leaders controlled the second half, dominating posession and territory, and if anyone was going to win it, it looked like them all ends up. But Dortmund showed their class, pouncing when Arsenal least expected it, when they were caught with men too far forward.

 

Hardworking wing-back Kevin Grosskreutz invaded down the right and produced his first note-worthy cross on the night. Like a phantom from the freakin' ashes, our main man Robert Lewandowski came onto the scene like a freakin' ghost and not so much smashed, but Caressed the side volley into the goal. It was a beautiful goal, made even more serene through the slow-mo replays. In that one sequence, the Pole proved his class and showed just why so many top clubs around the world are hunting for his signature. Dortmund know how to win..... and in fact, they just did.